Buchanan, James M.

Buchanan, James M. (McGill) (1919–  ) economist; born in Murfreesboro, Tenn. With his "public choice" theory, an integration of political decision making and economic theory, he attacked the established approach to public sector economics. His interest and analysis of collective choice was strongly influenced by 19th-century European writers on public finance. He taught at several colleges before accepting a professorship at George Mason University (1983). He was awarded the Nobel Prize (1986).