Due to the growth of the program, the third annual Free Market Forum was held in Dearborn, Michigan, on September 25-27, 2008.  Almost 400 faculty members, state policy leaders, and other guests gathered to hear the opening address by political analyst Karl Rove.  Other evening speakers were Jonah Goldberg and world renowned economist Hernando de Soto.  Once again, over 100 faculty members and state policy leaders from across the United States and Canada took part in the weekend.  Professor Ken Elzinga provided valuable insights on "How to Teach Economics" in his Saturday morning lecture.  Four panel discussions rounded out the three-day event.The papers from the Free Market Forum 2008 (except Rove, Goldberg, and de Soto) are available for download below.  Simply click on the title to open the file. 

Please note, all of the talks are available in audio format from Hillsdale College.  Please call 1-800-437-2268.

• "Economics and the 2008 Election"
  Karl Rove
  

          Panel 1:  Markets and Politics

• "The Politics of Healthcare"
  Kimberley Strassel
• "Taxes & Deficits - a 2008 Perspective"
  Alan Reynolds
• "Energy Dependency and the Role of Government"
  Fran Smith
  
  
  

          Panel 2: Freedom and the Environment

• "The Problem with Environmental Education Today"
  Michael Sanera
• "The Use and Abuse of Global Warming"
  Steven Hayward
• "Endangered Species: The Case of the Polar Bear"
  Ben Lieberman
  
  
  

          Panel 3:  21st Century Challenges to Property Rights

• "History of Property Rights"
  James Ely, Jr.
• "Property Rights after KELO"
  Edward J. Erler 
• "Water Rights: Current Controversies"
  Gary Libecap

• "The Theoretical Roots of American Bureaucracy"
  Jonah Goldberg

          Panel 4:  "Is Free Trade Fair Trade?"

• "The Development of Free Trade in Europe"
  Gene King 
• "Free Trade as an Instrument of Justice"
  John E. Charalambakis
• "The Morality of Free Trade"
  J. Stephen Phillips
  
  
• "How to Teach Economics"
  Ken Elzinga
  
  
• "Property Rights and a Free Society" (forthcoming)
  Hernando De Soto