Peter T. Leeson (born July 29, 1979) is Professor of Economics and BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism at George Mason University. He is best known for his work on Caribbean pirates, which uses rational choice theory to explain pirate behavior. His book The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates examines the economic conditions and incentives that influenced pirate behavior and says it led to their purported influence on democracy. Leeson is also known for his writings on law and economics, which use rational choice theory to explain legal institutions.
