The Denny Center engages in conversations with thought leaders who are wrestling with the natural tensions between free market capitalism and the needs of a democratic society. Check back here for new ideas on how we might navigate the tradeoffs in an effort to keep capitalism healthy.
- In a transcript (edited for length and clarity) of the Denny Center event In Search of Adam Smith: What Might He Think of Today’s Economy?, panelists Richard Boyd, Georgetown University Associate Professor of Government; Adam Dixon, Adam Smith Chair in Sustainable Capitalism, Panmure House; James Feinmerman, James & Catherine Denny Chair in Democratic Capitalism; and David Schmidtz, Presidential Chair of Moral Science, WVU discuss the legacy of Adam Smith’s work and his legacy in the modern context.
- Kimberly Simpson, COO and General Counsel at the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), on important corporate governance topics including how boards are prioritizing their time and agendas, whether stakeholder and shareholder tradeoffs are really zero-sum, how boards oversee moving ESG aspirations into tangible strategies, and CEO pay from the board’s perspective (Spring 2023).
- Professor Heather McGregor, Executive Dean of Edinburgh Business School, and Dr. Caroline Howitt, Programme Director of Adam Smith’s Panmure House, on long-term thinking and how corporate profits and purpose fit together (Fall 2021).
- Natalia Nicolaidis, Founder & CEO of Dynamic Counsel, and Denny Center Affiliated Fellow on corporate purpose, risk management, and how ESG strategies can drive long-term profitability (Fall 2021).
- Jamie Kalamarides, President of Prudential Group Insurance, on generating profits and pursuing the common good (Spring 2021).
- Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at the London Business School, on how companies can both generate profits and serve society without seeing the two as zero-sum alternatives (Fall 2020).
- Shane Goodwin, Associate Dean and Professor of Practice at SMU’s Cox School of Business, on corporate purpose and how shareholder activism can be misunderstood (Fall 2020)
- FCLTGlobal’s Ariel Babcock, Head of Research, and Allen He, Associate Director, on mitigating common share buyback pitfalls and getting R&D spending right (Fall 2020)