2006 Free Market Forum
Hillsdale College | October 27-29, 2006
In the fall of 2006, Hillsdale College hosted the first Free Market Forum on “The Role of Markets and Governments in Pursuing the Common Good.” The program included presentations by Rev. Robert Sirico of the Acton Institute, Richard Epstein of the University of Chicago Law School, and author George Gilder. In addition, four panel discussions covered a wide range of topics that incorporated free market strategies.
The Free Market Forum seeks to encourage the study of free enterprise. Consequently, over fifty invitees, including faculty members from colleges and universities around the country with ties to the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities or the Acton Institute, attended as guests of the Free Market Forum. Included in this group were representatives from ten state-based policy centers. These scholars and state policy leaders came together for a dynamic exchange of information, to enhance the discussions at the colloquium, and to encourage the exchange of ideas in the future.
Presentations
Presentation
“Free Economies and the Common Good”
Rev. Robert A. Sirico, Acton Institute
Panel 1: The Rise of the U.S. to Economic Superpower
“Market Conditions in the Late 19th Century”
P.J. Hill, Wheaton College and The Property and Environment Research Center
“Failure as an Element of Entrepreneurial Success”
Larry Schweikart, University of Dayton
“Grover Cleveland and Sound Currency”
Lawrence W. Reed, Foundation for Economic Education
Panel 2: The Great Depression and the New Deal
“What Got Us Into and Out of the Great Depression”
Robert Higgs, Independent Institute
“The New Deal: Reputation and Reality”
Jim Couch, University of North Alabama
“FDR and the IRS”
Burton Folsom, Hillsdale College
Presentation
“Progressivism’s Critique of Free Markets”
Richard Epstein, New York University
Panel 3: The Role of the Federal Reserve
“The Evolution of Thinking About Federal Reserve Monetary Policy”
Edward Gramlich, Urban Institute and University of Michigan
“How the Fed Works Today”
Robert Barro
“The Free Banking Alternative”
Lawrence H. White
Panel 4: Globalization and the U.S. Economy
“Trends in the European Union and Russia”
Nile Gardiner
“China’s Growth and Challenges to It”
Charles Wolf, Jr.
“Trends in Latin America”
Alejandro A. Chafuen
Presentation
“Wealth and Poverty: A 2006 Update”
George Gilder