The Denny Center for Democratic Capitalism
The Denny Center for Democratic Capitalism at Georgetown Law exists to reconcile the benefits of free market capitalism with the values 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, 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.

Democracy and Industry Capture of the Executive
Denny Center student Fellow Maximilian Laufer discusses regulatory capture and industry influence on America's executive branch.

Generative AI: Developments, Capacities, and Risks
Check out Denny Center Student Fellow Ruoyu Liu's primer on generative AI! He provides a primer on AI technology and examines the potential opportunities and risks within the field.

Denny Center Publishes Inaugural Report
Capitalism generates growing total wealth, produces new innovations, and provides jobs. However, pressures include growing gaps in incomes, a slowdown in upward mobility, inadequate stewardship of natural resources, a decline in business investment, and a decreasing quality of market competition.