He then did graduate study in economics at Washington University in St. Louis, earning a Master of Arts in 1982 and a Ph.D. in 1984 with a dissertation entitled "Institutions and Outcomes: Two Essays on the Importance of Legislative Structure for Understanding Public Policy".

[3] He also serves as an Adjunct Scholar at the Cato Institute[4] and as a member of the Academic Council of the Jack Miller Center.

[13] His key issues include improving school choice for lower socioeconomic background families and "dismantling and reforming" the Alcoholic Beverage Control system in North Carolina.

Early in the year, Munger said that Democratic gubernatorial challenger Bev Perdue was a "Stepford Wife" and the Republican nominees were "circus clowns.

[2] Following the election, Nick Gillespie of Reason magazine wrote: "I humbly submit that Duke University political science professor Michael Munger, who ran a strong bid as a Libertarian Party candidate for governor in North Carolina, set his eyes toward an even bigger and remote target in 2012, that stationary Death Star known as the White House.

"[17] Munger made education a centerpiece of his 2008 gubernatorial campaign, saying that allowing more charter schools is the first thing he would do: "Rich people have choices now.

[10] In the lead up to the 2008 gubernatorial election, Munger took more socially liberal positions on many issues than the Democratic candidate for governor, Bev Perdue.

"[8] While Democratic candidate Perdue has taken a hard line on illegal immigration similar to that of Republican Pat McCrory, Munger had a position more aligned with Barack Obama.

[19] Munger opposes the death penalty, and believes children of illegal immigrants should be allowed into University of North Carolina System schools and community colleges.