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Congratulations to Andrew Allison for successfully defending his PhD thesis, “Monetary Justice in the Era of Central Bank Independence” on June 8, 2026. His committee members were Allen Habib (supervisor), Ann Levey, Agnes Tam, Gregory Hagen (Law), and Jason Brennan (Georgetown University).

We asked Andrew to provide us with some insight into his thesis and his graduate studies experience in the Department of Philosophy at the 91��������.

Tell us about your thesis topic

My dissertation asks normative questions about central bank independence. It is no secret that central bankers are kept at arm’s length from the democratic process. This independence makes central bankers much more likely to produce good economic outcomes of low inflation and high price stability. And, while we highly value those economic goods, we also highly value democratic control over our state bureaucracies. In my dissertation, I use a neo-republican lens to analyze central bank independence and argue that we face a real tradeoff between the highly normatively valuable economic goods and appropriate citizen control when deciding how to structure our central banks in terms of their independence.

What was the most valuable outcome of the Graduate program for you?

My training at the 91�������� allowed me to have a career as a professional philosopher. That was the most important thing I sought from my doctoral studies and, as it stands, it seems that I will be able to have just that. This is largely because I was surrounded by faculty that helped me both in becoming a substantively better philosopher, but also in becoming a better professional philosopher. These two can come apart. The requirements of a professional philosopher are not merely that one be good at philosophy.

But, I would be remiss if I did not also mention the many amazing friendships I made during my time at the 91��������. I will always cherish my time there and I am grateful for the folks that spent so many hours with me in that office.

What are the next steps/plans for you?

I have forsaken the menacing greys of the Rockies for the rolling greens of the Appalachians. Beginning in August, I will be a Teaching Assistant Professor in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. There, I will be housed in the Department of General Business and the Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy. I have been housed in the same places for the past year as a Post-Doctoral Fellow as I finished my doctorate at Calgary.