The Denny Center for Democratic Capitalism
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, and 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. To that end, 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 and society (both public and private sectors) to discuss existing tensions and recommend new paths forward;
- Creating student experiences to enrich their education, engage them in the center’s work, and prepare them for lifelong contributions.
Georgetown Law provides the ideal home for the Denny Center given its esteemed faculty, strategic location, vast resource base, and outstanding student body.
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.
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.
Interested in healthcare? Check out our latest piece from Denny Center Student Fellow Rai Hasen Masoud (F'27) on private equity in the U.S. healthcare system.