Faculty Workshop – Travis Quigley

Travis Quigley (Arizona) will discuss his paper, “The Case for Place-Based Liberalism.” Visitors are welcome. Lunch will be served. To attend, please email the director of the institute, Michael Douma, at

Abstract: The political institutions of the United States, and perhaps other liberal institutions, should be reformed to increase the salience of local policy and political identity relative to national politics. Liberal politics is healthier when it is significantly localized. The best way to localize politics is to enhance community sovereignty and individual mobility. The best way to enhance community sovereignty is to gradually reduce federal and state influence on local policy. The best way to enhance individual mobility is to reform the welfare system to provide portable benefits, either by converting in-kind benefits to cash, nationally standardizing in-kind benefits, or a combination of both.

Location: Hariri building, room 570.