Mark A. Martinez was born in Tulare, California, but spent his formative years in California's Silicon Valley and the Santa Cruz mountains. In addition to "The Myth of the Free Market" Professor Martinez has published several works on political and economic development, and written specialized reports for public and private firms alike. Professor Martinez teaches International Political Economy and International Relations at California State University, Bakersfield, where he is Chair of the Department of Political Science and directs CSUB's Global Intelligence & National Security program. Professor Martinez' path to academia was neither straight, nor planned out. He attended Cabrillo College in Aptos, California to pursue a one year certificate in Fire Science but emerged with an A.A. degree and a strong interest in politics. After earning his B.A. at California State University, Chico he attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a Ph.D. in Political Science. While in graduate school he lived in the beautiful city of Queretaro, Mexico (three hours north of Mexico City) where he taught Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro. Professor Martinez has hosted and produced several radio programs in Bakersfield, including "The Mark Martinez Show: Talk Radio for Liberals and Real Conservatives". Professor Martinez is married and blessed with two wonderful children.