Our History
The Adam Smith Society is an initiative of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the Manhattan Institute partnered with the Marilyn G. Fedak Capitalism Project and began looking for ways to support teaching and scholarship surrounding the philosophical, historical, and moral aspects of a market economy. We also looked for ways to expand opportunities on campus for current students—the leaders of tomorrow—to reflect on the meaning of citizenship and their own role in keeping America an inspiring place to live and work.
In 2011, we worked with MBA students to found chapters of the Adam Smith Society at their home business schools. These students were committed to engaging in dialogue about individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise—“big picture” ideas—amongst MBA students.
In the years since our launch, we have grown to include chapters on the campuses of nearly 20 leading business schools, and have built a robust national network of students, alumni, and business leaders.
Mission Statement
The Adam Smith Society is a community of business school students and alumni who believe that business, entrepreneurship, and commerce are wellsprings that keep this country vibrant, creative, prosperous, and free.
Our members are dedicated to exploring the links among the economy, government, and society through rigorous debate and discussion.
The Society aims to build an influential network of future business leaders dedicated to preserving and strengthening the free-market economic system.
In concert with dedicated MBA student leaders, the national office of the Adam Smith Society underwrites and helps to coordinate a series of exclusive on-campus events that give MBA students access to prominent business leaders, academics, journalists, and public officials. Speakers discuss their experiences and offer insights about the connections between successful businesses, the maintenance of our nation’s free institutions, and a robust civil society. The Adam Smith Society also convenes national and regional programming for student members and alumni. We hope to inspire business students to think about their own responsibility in seeing our economic system endure.