Lawrence S. Powell is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute and Executive Director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information at the University of Alabama. He received his Ph.D. in risk management and insurance from the University of Georgia and B.B.A. in finance and insurance from the University of South Carolina. Professor Powell has also been Visiting Assistant Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Director of Select Business Unit at Rosenfeld-Einstein Insurance Agency, and Claims Investigator for South Carolina Medical Malpractice JUA. He is the recipient of the 2007 Excellence in Research Award, UALR College of Business; Maurice Doan Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching; Kemper Fellowship; and Spencer Scholarship. Professor Powell is ranked in the top 15% of downloaded authors on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN).