Get involved with the exciting and engaging lectures, film screenings, workshops and
symposiums happening at the Bagwell Center for the Study of Markets and Economic Opportunity
in the Coles College of Business.
Spring 2026 Lectures
Dr. Samuel Fleischacker, PhD
Speaker: Dr. Samuel Fleischacker, PhD. Laurance Rockefeller Fellow, UCHV, Princeton, 2025-2026
Date:January 26, 2026
Lecture 1:“Learning from Adam Smith Today” Time:10:10 am - 11:00 am Location: ENG Building, 102
Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations was published 250 years ago (exactly: in March, 1776) — why suppose it is still relevant? There are answers to that question that take Smith to anticipate left- or right-wing policies in the modern day. I shall instead talk about aspects of Smith that are useful for thinking about policy regardless of our particular political perspectives.
Lecture 2:“What Was So Great about 18th-Century Scotland?” Time:11:15 am - 1 2:05 pm Location: Convocation Center, 2016
It’s widely agreed that the center for philosophy in the United Kingdom, during the Enlightenment, was Scotland rather than England. This lecture will explain why, focusing on the work of Frances Hutcheson, David Hume and Adam Smith, and on the importance of sociability, and of emotion, in their work.
Speaker: Jonathan Looney Director of Business Development, Sallie Mae
Date: February 11, 2026
Lecture 1: “Smart Money Management/Understanding Credit” Time: 10:10 am - 11:00 am Location: Prillaman Hall, 1105
Understanding how credit works and building a responsible credit history early on is essential to building a strong credit score. This session will review the five primary factors considered in your credit score and discuss best practices for building and managing credit. You’ll learn more about FICO® Scores, credit cards, and credit reports.
Lecture 2: “Understanding the Costs of Student Loan Borrowing and the recent changes to the Federal Loan programs” Time: 11:15 am - 12:05 pm Location: Prillaman Hall, 1105
Before borrowing student loans, it’s important for you to understand how they work. Learn more about interest rates, the impact of interest on your borrowed loan amount, and important strategies to reduce your student loan balance. And learn how the recent changes to the Federal Loan programs may impact your plans for financing your graduate or professional degree.
Speaker: Dr. Samuel Gregg Political economist, author, and President at American Institute for Economic Research
(AIER).
Date: February 23, 2026
Lecture 1: “Why Free Trade Matters for America's Future” Time: 9:05 am - 9:55 pm Location: Student Center, 181
As global markets face rising pressures from economic nationalist sentiments, Dr.
Samuel Gregg, president of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), will
speak about free trade as an essential requirement for America's future prosperity,
and liberty.
In his address, Gregg will explore how free trade not only drives economic growth
but also strengthens the United States place in a dangerous world. Drawing upon history
and economic theory, he will argue that an America which embraces free trade will
be better positioned for dynamic economic growth and its capacity to prevail in its
geopolitical contest with China.
Lecture 2: “Economist and American Revolutionary: Adam Smith and 1776 ” Time: 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Location: Student Center, 181
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the publication of two texts that changed the
world: The Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations.
In his address, Gregg will explore the relationship between these two texts. He will also examine Adam Smith's analysis of the economic forces driving the split between Britain and its colonies, and his suggestions about how to solve the crisis. He will argue that it is his economic analysis that makes Smith’s insights into the American crisis truly revolutionary.
The Real Adam Smith: Part 1 – Morality and Markets
Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Time: 11:15 am Location: Convocation Center, 2016
Description:In Part 1, “Morality and Markets,” Smith’s upbringing during the Scottish Enlightenment and his roots as a moral philosopher take center stage. This segment examines his early interest in ethics and empathy and illustrates how these ideas influence modern consumer choices. This film explores Smith’s views on government’s role in markets, his contempt for monopolies and cronyism (with reference to entities like the East India Company), and his stance on the American colonies.
The Real Adam Smith: Part 2 – Ideas That Changed the World
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Time: 11:15 am Location: Convocation Center, 2016
Description: In Part 2, “Ideas That Changed the World,” Norberg shifts the focus to Smith’s impact on today’s global economy. This episode illustrates how principles of free trade and economic freedom that Smith championed in The Wealth of Nations have shaped modern prosperity—spanning breakthroughs in China’s economic liberalization to Hong Kong’s rise under Sir John Cowperthwaite.
These two 56-minute episodes together trace Smith’s development from moral philosopher to the “father of modern economics,” showing how his insights into morality and trade continue to underpin today’s interconnected global markets.
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Time: 9:05 am Location: Convocation Center, 2016
Description: This powerful historical drama follows William Wilberforce, a British politician driven by faith and moral conviction to end the transatlantic slave trade. The film traces his decades-long struggle against political opposition and entrenched economic interests, highlighting his alliance with reformers and his perseverance through illness and setbacks. Culminating in the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, Amazing Grace celebrates one of history’s most significant victories for human dignity and justice.
