Virtual Trek: Capitalism in Historical and Contemporary Context
Smith Soc Treks immerse our members in intellectual retreats that explore critical issues in business, industry, and economic theory and create deeper connections among Smith Soc members from around the world.
The modern world looks entirely different from the pre-industrial era, with dramatic improvements in global prosperity and quality of life. What explains this change and its magnitude? How did it happen and what are the moral implications? What are some of the key issues concerning capitalism today? This three-part virtual trek will take a critical look at both theoretical and practical aspects of capitalism’s impact on the world, and the key thinkers and schools that explain the virtues of the free market.
- Session I: “How Capitalism Changed the World”
- Session II: “The Morality of Capitalism”
- Session III: “Contemporary Issues in Capitalism”
Applications are currently closed.
Trek session leaders:
- Professor Donald Boudreaux, professor of economics at George Mason University; Senior Fellow at Mercatus Center (Sessions I & III)
- Professor John Taylor is the professor of economics at Stanford University; Senior Fellow at Hoover Institution (Session II)
Speakers
George Mason economist Donald Boudreaux on the historical context of today’s antitrust debates. Professor Boudreaux is the author of Globalization and serves as a senior fellow at the Mercatus Center, the American Institute for Economic Research, and the Fraser Institute.
John B. Taylor is the Mary and Robert Raymond Professor of Economics at Stanford University and the George P. Shultz Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He served as senior economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers from 1976-77, as a Member of the Council from 1989-91, and as Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs from 2001-05. He is a former President of the Mont Pelerin Society. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Hayek Prize for his book, First Principles, and Adam Smith Awards from the National Association for Business Economics and the Association of Private Enterprise Education.