Julia R. Cartwright

Senior Research Fellow in Law & Economics

Julia R. Cartwright is an economist whose work specializes in law and economics, political economy, and economic development. Her research features topics like the governance structures of crypto markets, the economic consequences of judicial interventions in courts in East Africa, and the development impact of housing regulations.

Dr. Cartwright has a wide-ranging teaching background, having previously taught over fifteen different economics courses as a professor at Pepperdine University, Hope College, and Kalamazoo College. Her teaching repertoire covers core and specialized courses including Game Theory and Economic Development of Africa.

She contributes to public discourse through debates, media appearances, public lectures, book reviews, and a TEDx talk. Dr. Cartwright also serves as the lead economist for the Sudreau Global Justice Institute at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. She oversees monitoring and evaluation efforts, applying economic analysis to assess the effectiveness of judicial reforms, particularly around plea bargaining and court case backlog reduction in Rwanda and Uganda.

Ending the Era of Energy Favoritism: <em>How Technology-Neutral Policy Can Unlock the US Power Grid</em>

The US energy system should shift from a hodgepodge of politically favored technologies toward a market-driven portfolio that is cleaner, more reliable, and increasingly affordable.

Ending the Era of Energy Favoritism: <em>How Technology-Neutral Policy Can Unlock the US Power Grid</em>

28 Homes Rebuilt in a Year: Why LA’s Fire Recovery Is Stalled

Los Angeles doesn’t lack urgency — it lacks functional markets. With 13,000 homes destroyed and just 28 rebuilt, the state’s insurance restrictions and building mandates are turning a natural disaster…

28 Homes Rebuilt in a Year: Why LA’s Fire Recovery Is Stalled

What the 50-Year Mortgage Debate Reveals About US Housing Constraints

Ultimately, the debate over 50-year mortgages is less about exotic loan structures and more about the deeper structural limits of America’s housing system.

What the 50-Year Mortgage Debate Reveals About US Housing Constraints

Data Centers Aren’t the Only Reason Electricity Prices Are Surging

Government regulations and new taxes are adding a hidden ‘policy premium’ to electricity costs.

Data Centers Aren’t the Only Reason Electricity Prices Are Surging

The 2025 Nobel in Economics and the Roots of Enduring Growth

As policymakers around the world grapple with slow productivity growth and rising populism, they would do well to revisit the insights of these laureates. 

The 2025 Nobel in Economics and the Roots of Enduring Growth

What Shipping Containers Did for Trade, Stablecoins Can Do for Money

Stablecoins offer enormous promise for digital commerce if we codify their standard.

What Shipping Containers Did for Trade, Stablecoins Can Do for Money

NYC’s Economic Dysfunction Pushed Voters Too Far. Will They Now Choose Socialism?

Let’s be honest, many people move to New York City to make money, not have it taken away. Since over half of NYC’s population isn’t even from New York, millions…

NYC’s Economic Dysfunction Pushed Voters Too Far. Will They Now Choose Socialism?

NYC’s Economic Dysfunction Pushed Voters Too Far. Will They Now Choose Socialism?

Young New Yorkers demand government pay attention, but frustration with NYC's bureaucracy is why many voters want to burn it down.

NYC’s Economic Dysfunction Pushed Voters Too Far. Will They Now Choose Socialism?

Why Bitcoiners Will Benefit from Stablecoin Legislation 

The recent passage of the Senate’s GENIUS Act and House’s upcoming “Crypto Week” mark a seismic shift in the financial world. The bill, which passed by a 68–30 vote, establishes…

Why Bitcoiners Will Benefit from Stablecoin Legislation 

Why Bitcoiners Will Benefit from Stablecoin Legislation 

Regulatory clarity on stablecoins—issued by private companies and pegged to fiat—will help decentralized options move forward.

Why Bitcoiners Will Benefit from Stablecoin Legislation