Mr. Daniel J. Smith

Survey 2007: School Support Service Privatization Rises

Sept. 4, 2007 Viewpoint on Public Issues

Competitive contracting continues to be a popular management tool for improving services and for saving money, which can then be reinvested into classrooms. All indications are that it will continue to grow in popularity.

Survey 2007: More Growth in School Support Service Privatization

Aug. 16, 2007 Study

Privatization is a time-tested management tool used by governments around the world. It can take many forms, but competitive contracting is the most prevalent in the United States whether in municipalities or within the realm of public education. In some regards, Michigan is a national leader in competitive contracting in education; in other areas it is a laggard.

Survey: School Outsourcing Grows

Oct. 27, 2005 Michigan Privatization Report

Survey: School Outsourcing Grows

Aug. 1, 2005 Viewpoint on Public Issues

According to Loock, the district went from paying a $100,000 subsidy to the food program to posting a profit of up to $25,000 after Chartwells took over.

Daniel J. Smith is an adjunct scholar with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and a Ph.D. candidate in economics at George Mason University. Smith's expertise lies in Austrian economics and public choice theory. He has twice served as a Mackinac Center research intern.

As an undergraduate at Northwood University, Smith received two major academic awards: the Arthur E. Turner Award, which is the university’s highest honor; and the Ludwig von Mises Award, which is presented for outstanding achievement in economics. Smith’s interest in economics was sparked by Mackinac Center President Lawrence Reed’s essay “Are We Going the Way of Rome?”