Events
The Denny Center convenes leading voices relevant to both the public and private sectors including those from business, government and cultural institutions to discuss existing tensions between free market capitalism and democratic society and to recommend potential paths forward.
Events include discussions of the purpose of a business, primary responsibilities of boards of directors, tangible frameworks and actions available to business leaders and professionals that support them, and new ways to measure the health of capitalism in the US and around the world.
The primary goal of events hosted by the center is to identify the right questions, recognizing in many areas that reasonable people may disagree on answers or solutions. The events will range from smaller lectures, interviews or panel discussions (less than 2 hours in length) to larger keynote symposia that span a half or full day.
Upcoming Events
Adam Smith: The Currency of Thought Film Screening
February 19, 2026 (12:00 to 1:15 PM)
Hart Auditorium, McDonough Hall Georgetown Law Center
Get to know the real Smith in Adam Smith: The Currency of Thought from the Emmy award-winning filmmakers at Windrider Productions in association with The Denny Center for Democratic Capitalism(This link opens in a new tab) at Georgetown Law and Adam Smith’s Panmure House(This link opens in a new tab). 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’s vision for human flourishing. In reality, Smith defies current-day definitions both in his academic work and his economic thinking. He is best known for his second book, The Wealth of Nations, but he would caution readers to study his first book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, before considering his ideas about organizing commercial society. The film introduces his thinking to a new generation, dispelling myths and exploring how his insights can help society today.
The film screening will be followed by a talkback featuring special guests Georgetown University Government Professors Glory Liu and Shannon Stimson. Box lunches will be provided after the film and discussion.
RSVP here, and check out the film trailer below!
Panelists:
- James Feinerman | James & Catherine Denny Chair of Democratic Capitalism at Georgetown Law
- Glory Liu | Author, Adam Smith’s America & Assistant Professor of Government, Georgetown University
- Bruce Shaw | Executive Director, Denny Center for Democratic Capitalism at Georgetown Law
- Shannon Stimson | Professor of Government and Leavey Chair, Georgetown University
Revisiting the Health of Democratic Capitalism
Featuring: Bruce Shaw, James Feinerman, Betsey Stevenson, and Michael Strain
Revisiting and Revising the Leadership Industry
Featuring: Bruce Shaw, Barbara Kellerman, and James Feinerman
Capitalism: What's Working, What's Not
Featuring: Bruce Shaw, James Feinerman, and Luigi Zingales
Long-term Corporate Culture: Creating Value and Strengthening Capitalism. Featuring: Tim Koller, Victoria Potter, Bruce Shaw, Ariel Babcock, and James Feinerman.
Capitalism Under Fire: Can Business Be Part of the Solution? Featuring: Stephen Hills and James Feinerman.
Modern Principles for Sensible and Effective Executive Pay Featuring Aspen Institute's Judy Samuelson and Miguel Padro.
Past Events
- Representing Small Investors in the Corporate Boardroom: A Conversation with the State Treasurers of Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, and Vermont – with Michael Frerichs, Matthew Leatherman, Mike Pieciak, Erick Russell, and David Young (November 14, 2025)
- Adam Smith Documentary: Behind the Scenes with the Filmmakers — Windrider Productions’ Jon Cipiti and Bruce Shaw (April 22, 2025)
- Industrial Policy: How to Get It Right — with James Feinerman, Michael Strain, Betsey Stevenson, and Bruce Shaw (October 22, 2024)
- Capitalism and the News: How Has the Market Economy Impacted News and Journalism? — with Stephen P. Hills, James Feinerman, and Bruce Shaw (April 12, 2024)
- In Search of Adam Smith: How Might He React to Today’s Market Economy? — with Richard Boyd, Adam Dixon, James Feinerman, & David Schmidtz (September 19, 2023)
- Corporate Governance in 2023 and Beyond: A Conversation with NACD on Hot Topics for Corporate Boards — with Kimberly Simpson (Apr 19, 2023)
- Revisiting the Health of Democratic Capitalism — with Betsey Stevenson and Michael Strain (Jan 11, 2023)
- Revisiting & Revising the Leadership Industry — with Barbara Kellerman (Apr 19, 2022)
- Capitalism: What’s Working and What’s Not? — with Luigi Zingales (Apr 6, 2022)
- Reimagining Capitalism — with Rebecca Henderson (Apr 26, 2022)
- Long-Term Corporate Culture: Creating Value and Strengthening Capitalism — with Ariel Babcock, Tim Koller, and Victoria Potter (Feb 17, 2022)
- Examining a New Working Class Conservatism — with Oren Cass and Tim Chapman (Jan 26, 2022)
- Capitalism Under Fire: Can Business Be Part of the Solution? Co-Sponsored by the Business Law Scholars Program — with Stephen Hills (Oct 5, 2021)
- Modern Principles for Sensible and Effective Executive Pay — with Judy Samuelson and Miguel Padro from the Aspen Institute’s Business & Society Program (Nov 17, 2021)