Charles L. Ballard is an award-winning Professor in the Department of Economics at Michigan State University. He is a widely-published author; a proud Princeton graduate; and has been a consultant to United States Department of Health and Human Services; Ministry of Business and Industry, Denmark; Finnish Forest Research Institute; Educational Testing Service; United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service; Helsinki School of Economics and Business; and the United States Department of Treasury, Office of Tax Analysis. Ballard is a member of the American Economic Association, the International Institute of Public Finance, the Midwest Political Science Association, and the National Tax Association.