The Denny Center for Democratic Capitalism
The Denny Center exists to reconcile the benefits of free market capitalism with the needs and expectations of a democratic society.
Over the last 200 years, free market capitalism has proven itself as an unmatched engine for driving economic growth in the United States and around the world, yet big problems persist, including uneven economic opportunities, degradation of natural resources, and questions of corporate integrity when profits appear to be the sole motivator.
The Denny Center’s primary work is to evaluate the relative balance of economic performance and societal health and stability. We measure both business results and the needs of society, to highlight the tensions present in the existing system, and search for potential solutions, especially those that consider all stakeholders and favor long-term objectives to measure success.
To carry out its mission, the Denny Center pursues work in three areas:
- Conducting and publishing research including the center’s signature annual report card to analyze the current health of democratic capitalism;
- Convening leading voices from business, government, academia, and society more broadly to discuss existing tensions and recommend new paths forward;
- Creating experiences to enrich student education, engage them in the center’s work, and prepare them for lifelong contributions.
Working at the intersection of government and the economy, the Denny Center works to evaluate not only what parts of our economic system is working well and what needs improvement, but also potential solutions to ensure that the economy is serving society’s needs. Georgetown Law provides the ideal home for the Denny Center given its esteemed faculty, strategic location, vast resource base, and outstanding student body.
Recent Updates:
Get to know the real Adam Smith in the new documentary film Adam Smith: The Currency of Thought from the Emmy award-winning filmmakers at Windrider Productions in association with The Denny Center for Democratic Capitalism and Adam Smith's Panmure House! Adam Smith is known as the "Father of Capitalism" and the modern world's first economist, but that is only a partial understanding of the Scottish Enlightenment scholar and his vision for human flourishing. In reality, Smith defies current-day definitions both in his academic work and his economic thinking.
The private sector, specifically the corporate sector, has a vested interest in the supporting the long-term health of society more broadly. The report focuses primarily on public company boards of directors, the challenges they face, and the rationale for prioritizing non-shareholder stakeholder interests.
Denny Center Student Fellow Rai Hasen Masoud's (F'27) compares US vs. Chinese strategies for AI development.
Check out the recent post from Denny Center Student Fellow, Ryan Haraden (L'27) to learn more about labor history and how declining administrative capacity is impacting workers and the U.S. economy.