“Education is the passport to the future.” Malcolm X said these words decades ago, yet they still ring true today. Across the world, undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals search for opportunities that open doors. Scholarships help with tuition. Internships build experience. Fellowships do something even deeper. They help undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals think. One fellowship that does this exceptionally well is the Don Lavoie Fellowship.
The Don Lavoie Fellowship is an academic program designed for undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals interested in political economy. It brings together undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals, scholars, and researchers to study how economic systems work and how institutions shape society. The program is hosted by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in the United States.
For undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals who want to pursue careers in economics, public policy, or academic research, the Don Lavoie Fellowship can be a powerful intellectual starting point.
What the Don Lavoie Fellowship Is About
The Don Lavoie Fellowship is an online academic fellowship program for undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals in political economy.
It is designed for three groups of people:
- Advanced undergraduate students
- Recent graduates considering graduate school
- Early-stage professionals
Participants can come from any academic discipline. Economics majors are welcome, but they are not required. undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals from law, political science, philosophy, sociology, and other fields also apply.
The program is entirely online. This allows undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals and young from every region of the world to participate. The fellowship usually runs for one semester. During this period, fellows participate in discussions, readings, and online seminars with scholars.
The goal is simple. Fellows explore how economic ideas shape real world institutions and policies.
The Institution Behind the Don Lavoie Fellowship
The Don Lavoie Fellowship is run by the Mercatus Center. The Mercatus Center is a research institute based at George Mason University in Virginia. It focuses on economic research and public policy analysis. The center studies how markets work, how regulations affect economic outcomes, and how institutions influence economic growth. Many of its research programs focus on classical liberal economic ideas.
The center hosts several fellowships and research programs that train future scholars. The Don Lavoie Fellowship is one of the entry level programs designed for undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals who are exploring graduate study and research careers.
The Intellectual Focus of the Don Lavoie Fellowship
Political economy is the main theme of the Don Lavoie Fellowship. Political economy studies how political institutions and economic systems interact. Instead of studying economics in isolation, political economy asks deeper questions.
For example:
- Why do some institutions encourage innovation?
- Why do some policies slow economic growth?
- Why do markets succeed in some countries and fail in others?
The fellowship explores three major traditions in political economy:
- The Austrian school
- The Virginia school
- The Bloomington school
Fellows read and discuss works from major thinkers within these traditions. They also explore modern research that builds on these ideas.
This exposure helps fellows understand how economic theory connects to real policy debates.
Benefits of the Don Lavoie Fellowship
The Don Lavoie Fellowship offers both intellectual and financial benefits. Each fellow can receive support worth up to $1,250.
This support includes:
- A stipend
- All required program readings
- Mentorship from scholars
- Advice on research and graduate school
The financial component is modest. However, the intellectual value is often much greater. Fellows gain access to an international network of undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals, alumni, and researchers interested in political economy. They also gain exposure to academic discussions that normally happen inside graduate programs.
For many undergraduate students and young professionals, the Don Lavoie Fellowship becomes their first real experience with academic research culture.
What Fellows Actually Do
The Don Lavoie Fellowship is highly interactive. Participants do not simply watch lectures. They actively engage with ideas. Fellows participate in online reading groups where they discuss important books and research papers. These reading groups usually meet several times during the semester.
Participants also engage in an online discussion portal. This platform includes:
- Articles
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Academic prompts for discussion
Fellows respond to these materials and debate ideas with other participants. This format encourages deep learning.
Instead of memorizing concepts, fellows analyze arguments and critique ideas.
Who Can Apply for the Don Lavoie Fellowship
One of the strengths of the Don Lavoie Fellowship is that it is open to applicants from anywhere in the world. Undergraduate students and young professionals from all countries are eligible to apply.
Applicants must fall into one of these categories:
- Undergraduate considering graduate school
- Recent graduates considering graduate study
- Early-stage professionals
Applicants must also demonstrate an interest in political economy. Internet access is required because the fellowship is fully online. This accessibility allows undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals from developing countries to participate without travel costs.
Application Deadline and Process
Applications for the Don Lavoie Fellowship are submitted online through the Mercatus Center website.
Applicants typically submit:
- A cover letter
- A resume or CV
- Short essays about their interests and goals
The cover letter usually explains the applicant’s academic background and research interests. The application also asks candidates to discuss their interest in political economy.
For the 2026–2027 fellowship cycle, applications are due April 15, 2026.
Admission decisions are usually announced several weeks after the deadline.
Why the Don Lavoie Fellowship Matters
Many undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals’ complete university degrees without engaging deeply with economic ideas. The Don Lavoie Fellowship addresses this gap. It encourages undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals to explore the intellectual foundations of policy debates.
Participants learn how institutions shape incentives and how incentives shape behavior. This knowledge is essential for careers in:
- Economic research
- Public policy
- Government advisory work
- Think tanks
- Academic teaching
The fellowship also builds networks. Fellows interact with scholars and peers who share similar academic interests. These connections often lead to research collaborations and future opportunities.
Exploring More Global Opportunities
Undergraduate students and young professionals interested in fellowships and international opportunities should actively search for programs like the Don Lavoie Fellowship. Many excellent opportunities exist around the world.
Platforms such as The Lantern Post regularly highlight global fellowships, internships, and scholarships for undergraduate students, recent graduates and young professionals seeking international experience.
Exploring such opportunities early can significantly shape a student’s academic and professional journey.
Final Thoughts
The Don Lavoie Fellowship is more than a small academic stipend. It is a community of scholars exploring the foundations of political economy. Participants engage in rigorous discussions about markets, institutions, and policy. They learn how to analyze economic ideas critically. They also gain mentorship and access to a global network of researchers.
For undergraduate students and young professionals who want to pursue graduate school or careers in economics and public policy, the Don Lavoie Fellowship can be an important intellectual stepping stone.
Undergraduate students and young professionals who want to deepen their understanding of political economy should strongly consider applying for the Don Lavoie Fellowship.
