His primary theoretical contribution to heterodox economics lies in the areas of pricing, price, production, costs, market competition, market governance, and the modeling of the economy as a disaggregated, emergent whole.
With this family background, he was aware of progressive politics and civil and workers rights even in his early days.
He went to Frostburg State College (Maryland, 1968–1972) and obtained a BA degree in history.
While doing his undergraduate study, he was interested in philosophy and later in economics because he found that social questions in the 19th century were mainly examined by economists.
After two years of working in Saudi Arabia (a supply clerk position with the Corps of Engineers in Riyadh), he returned to the United States and continued his study at Columbia University in New York City.