Josh Magee

Josh B. McGee is an economist and associate professor in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, where he holds the 21st Century Endowed Chair in Education Accountability and Transparency. He is also a faculty affiliate of the Office for Education Policy, a leading research-practice partnership focused on improving education outcomes in Arkansas.

His research explores key issues in public finance, retirement policy, P–20 education, and economic development, and his work has been featured in major media outlets and prominent academic journals. His recent Point/Counterpoint articles in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management examine the relationship between school spending and student outcomes, emphasizing the importance of funding details and cautioning against overgeneralization in research.

Beyond academia, he has held leadership roles in education, government, nonprofits, and philanthropy. He continues to collaborate with governments and nonprofits to apply data and evidence in policymaking, ensuring research informs real-world decisions.