Roadside MBA: Back Road Lessons for Entrepreneurs, Executives and Small Business Owners

Roadside MBA: Back Road Lessons for Entrepreneurs, Executives and Small Business Owners

In Roadside MBA, three economists—Michael Mazzeo, Paul Oyer, and Scott Schaefer—embark on a road trip across America, visiting small and medium-sized businesses to see how economic principles play out in the real world. Blending academic insight with practical stories from the road, the book offers a fresh and approachable take on business strategy, operations, and growth.

Rather than focusing on large corporations or abstract theory, the authors shine a light on everyday entrepreneurs running niche businesses—from a cardboard box manufacturer in Tennessee to a car dealership in rural Idaho. These stories highlight how business owners solve real-world problems, make strategic decisions, and adapt to change using the same core economic principles taught in MBA programs.

Each chapter is built around a key business concept—such as pricing, differentiation, competition, or scaling—and uses a story from the road to bring that concept to life. The result is an engaging, down-to-earth guide for entrepreneurs who want to improve their businesses without wading through dense textbooks.

Roadside MBA is especially useful for small business owners and nonprofit leaders looking to sharpen their strategic thinking. It proves that no matter how small or specialized a business may be, the same foundational principles of economics and management still apply. By learning from others who have faced similar challenges, readers gain both inspiration and practical advice.

Whether you're a business veteran or just getting started, this book is a valuable (and entertaining) reminder that smart business thinking isn’t limited to big cities or big budgets—it’s happening every day on the back roads of America.