Events

Conferences

16th Annual Conference: The Economic Consequences of Mr. Trump: Jobs, Wages, Trade, Growth, Health and Satisfaction

Monday, September 17, 2018

On September 17, 2018, the Center on Capitalism and Society held its 16th annual conference, "The Economic Consequences of Mr. Trump: Jobs, Wages, Trade, Growth, Health and Satisfaction." 

15th Annual Conference: The Age of the Individual: 500 Years Ago Today

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

On October 31, 2017, the Center on Capitalism and society gathered leading scholars in economics, philosophy and sociology to explore themes of individualism, emancipation and self-actualization that trace their roots to the day Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door at Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.

Understanding these broad trends – how they evolved, where they stand today, and how they may play out in the future – have vital consequences for work, business and innovation.

The conference took place in Columbia’s Low Library Faculty Room with a seated luncheon and dinner in the Low Memorial Library Rotunda. (Lunch and dinner by invitation only.)

 

 

 

14th Annual Conference: Agency, Prospering, Progress and the Working Class

Friday, November 18, 2016

Organized in collaboration with Common Good and the Roosevelt Institute, the Center's 14th annual conference -- "Agency, Prospering, Progress, and the Working Class" -- was held in Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs Building (IAB). The first goal of the conference was to begin to understand the frustration and disaffection voiced more and more loudly by lower middle class workers  in recent decades. The second goal was to attempt to determine what policies would help to remedy the symptoms and what policies would not appear to be helpful. The conference consisted of three sessions, a roundtable, a luncheon speech by Matthew Winkler, and a dinner speech by Daniel Rose. 

Special Conference: The Future of Europe (Co-hosted with the Oxford Martin School)

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

On April 27th, the Oxford Martin School and the Center hosted a conference, The Future of Europe: Drivers of Change, at Oxford University. Convened by Oxford Martin School director Ian Goldin, Center director Edmund Phelps, and David Vines (Balliol College and acting director of the program on the Political Economy of Financial Markets), the conference explored the long-term economic and social challenges that Europe faces, such as the decline of both productivity growth and the rewards of working life. 

13th Annual Conference: Steps to Mass Flourishing: Social Values and Individual Experience

Monday, November 9, 2015

While the Center's last two conferences focused on the significant losses of indigenous innovation and thus human flourishing in much of the West, the 13th annual conference -- “Steps to Mass Flourishing: Social Values and Individual Experience” -- focused on what the United States and others can do to increase indigenous innovation. Two dozen scholars and experts participated in the daylong conference, which was held at Columbia University’s Casa Italiana and consisted of five sessions, a roundtable, a luncheon speech by Peter Thiel, and a dinner speech by Peter Jungen.

 

 

 

Seminars

Philippe Aghion Seminar: "The Social Origins of Inventors and the Returns to Invention"

Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 3:30pm to 6:20pm
Philippe Aghion reports recent research on Finnish inventors, analyzing the social origins of inventors and the returns to invention based on three data sets: individual income data, patenting data, and IQ data.

Martin Burt Seminar: The 'Poverty Stoplight' Approach to Eliminating Multidimensional Poverty

Thursday, May 11, 2017 - 4:10pm to 6:00pm
Dr. Burt discusses his work as founder and director of Fundación Paraguaya, a social mission organization devoted to poverty elimination in the world through entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

Philippe Aghion Seminar: Missing Growth from Creative Destruction

Thursday, April 6, 2017 - 4:10pm to 6:00pm
Professor Aghion discusses his paper "Missing Growth from Creative Destruction."

Philip K. Howard Seminar: Frameworks to Empower Human Agency and Surmount Distrust

Thursday, March 9, 2017 - 4:10pm to 6:00pm
In this seminar, entitled "Frameworks to Empower Human Agency and Surmount Distrust," Philip K. Howard writes that "efforts to liberate human initiative usually get bogged down in 1) a belief that regulation should be 'clear,' and leave no room for human judgment, and 2) that any open framework will lead to abuse of discretion." Mr. Howard will discuss the flaws in this approach and possible ways to break free of the resulting suffocating bureaucratic structures.

Amar Bhidé Seminar: Practical Knowledge

Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 4:10pm to 6:00pm
Amar Bhidé speaks on some hypotheses he has developed about the nature, development and use of practical knowledge and about the content and structure of a graduate seminar he has started teaching on the topic.