 Economic topics notably discussed by Ekelund include cultural economics, the history of economic thought, the economics of regulation, the economics of religion, public choice theory, mercantilism, and the economics of the American Civil War blockades.Textbooks by Ekelund have sold successfully with his and Robert Tollison's basic book, ""Economics"" now in its seventh edition.One of Ekelund's primary interests centers on the history of economic theory and its relevance to contemporary economic theory and policy.