Emily C. Skarbek is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute, and Assistant Professor of Economics at San Jose State University. She received her Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University, and she has been an F.A. Hayek Scholar and is the recipient of the Don Lavoie Memorial Award.

Her scholarly articles have appeared in the Journal of Private Enterprise, Erasmus Journal of Philosophy and Economics, and Energy and Environment, and she is a contributing author to the books, After Katrina: The Political Economy of Disaster and Community Rebound (ed. by Emily Chamlee-Wright and Virgil H. Storr) and Advances in Austrian Economics. Her research fields include applied microeconomics, urban economics, labor economics, charity, and economic development, and her policy papers on housing voucher choice programs have been published by the Mercatus Center.

Dr. Skarbek has been interviewed on Fox Business Channel, NBC TV, International Press TV, PJTV, Reason TV, CBS Radio, and elsewhere, and her popular articles have been published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, San Jose Mercury News, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Washington Examiner, Providence Journal, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Miami Herald, Albany Times Union, Wilmington Star, Star Telegram, Human Events, Oregon Live, Birmingham News, Salt Lake Tribune, Press Enterprise, Sacramento Bee, Bellingham Herald, Juneau Empire, Lima News, Great Falls Tribune, Lewiston Sun Journal, Centre Daily Times, and many other newspapers.