The Ideas at Work: Summer Internship Program offers students an immersive introduction to the world of ideas, policy, and social change. Over nine weeks in June and July each year, interns join a community of learners who are eager to understand how economic principles, institutional analysis, and classical liberal ideas shape the world around us. Each week, interns engage a curriculum that explores the foundations of the Mercatus approach to political economy—from the structure of production of social change to the mainline economics toolkit—through readings, lectures from scholars such as Peter Boettke, Christopher Coyne, and Rosolino Candela, and others, and collaborative discussions that encourage curiosity and intellectual exploration.
But the learning extends well beyond the classroom. Interns participate in workshops that develop their communication, research, and professional skills, preparing them for future work in policy, academia, nonprofits, or the private sector. At the same time, each intern takes on meaningful responsibilities across the Mercatus Center, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as research, policy analysis, talent development, operations, marketing, and more. Guided by scholars and staff, interns contribute to real projects that support a nonprofit research organization’s mission and produce work they can showcase in academic or professional settings.
The program also offers opportunities to engage directly with leading thinkers and practitioners. Through conversations with visiting scholars and site visits to organizations across Washington, DC—including the Cato Institute, Institute for Humane Studies, Stand Together, American Enterprise Institute, U.S. Congress, and more—interns gain a broader perspective on how ideas move through institutions and influence society.
Altogether, the internship provides a holistic and transformative experience. Interns leave with a deeper understanding of how social change happens, a network of peers and mentors who share their interests, and concrete work that reflects their growth. It is an ideal program for motivated students who want to engage deeply with ideas, develop practical skills, and contribute to work that matters.
