The mission of the Independent Institute, founded in 1986, is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous and free societies, grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. Our scholarly book publishing program focuses on research from outstanding scholars and policy experts in the fields of political economy, markets, history, law, education, finance, the environment, political science, peace studies, defense and security concerns, and entrepreneurialship. Our books consistently win awards in the independent publishing world as well as in scholarly circles. Our book publishing and other programs are intended to provide enlightening ideas for a broad spectrum of public policy issues.