A TWO DAY CONFERENCE from the
Institute of Economic Affairs Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore London
路 July 11-12 2015
Over the last several decades, as capitalism has flourished around the world, we have seen millions escape poverty and live in greater prosperity than ever before. Despite these successes, some continue to challenge the opportunities that markets and freedom create, and so the battle of ideas carries on. From health, education and welfare, free markets can play a tremendous role in lifting the poorest people out of poverty and it will be students and young professionals like you that champion this cause and promote economic freedom in Britain and the world. This weekend, I hope THINK will leave you more informed, intellectually roused and more inspired to learn, discuss and ultimately advance sound economics. After all, the future lies in your hands! Please do continue to stay in touch with IEA, especially through our Future Freedom programme, a series of events designed for students. You can find out more at www.iea.org.uk/events. Have a terrific conference. Best wishes, Mark Littlewood Director General, IEA
WELCOME
Welcome to THINK, we hope over the course of the next two days you will find the speakers and events stimulating and inspiring.
ABOUT U
The Institute of Economic Affairs is the UK’s original free market think tank, placing ourselves at the forefront of the battle of ideas since our founding 60 years ago. Since then we’ve had a number of Nobel Prize winning economists associated with us including Milton Friedman, Elinor Ostrom, and Friedrich Hayek. They, like so many others, shared our vision to educate people on the role that markets can play in solving economic and social problems. As an educational charity, we have strong connections with the UK’s leading universities and schools. From helping university economic societies to flourish, to our sixth form conference programme, we travel the length and breadth of the country talking about free market economics and distributing our publications. Through our conversations with students all over the country, it became clear that there wasn’t an event out there for the best and brightest students in the UK to come together and look at ways to solve the world’s economic problems. This is where the idea for THINK first came from.
MEET THE TEAM Christiana Hambro Head of External Relations, IEA 0207 7799 8923 chambro@iea.org.uk @cehambro
Grant Tucker Student Outreach Officer, IEA 0207 7799 8903 gtucker@iea.org.uk
ABOUT
After the financial crash of 2008, much of the world’s population lost their faith in markets and capitalism has been unfairly portrayed as an enemy of the poor. Think brings together some of the best speakers in the world to explain why this isn’t the case, and to highlight how the creativity and innovation fostered under free markets has helped to halve world poverty in recent decades. From the conventional to the obscure, we’ll be discussing everything from the Future of Healthcare, to the Economics of Game of Thrones. At this conference you’ll learn about some of the most exciting and innovative ways that we can address the most pressing challenges of our time including health, education, and what we can do to lift the poorest people in the world out of poverty.
@GrantTucker
Diego Zuluaga International Research Fellow, IEA 0207 7799 8922 dzuluaga@iea.org.uk @DiegoZuluagaL
ABOUT US
ABOUT THE IEA
Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line) – a 10 minute walk along Kensington Road to the Society. Lancaster Gate (Central Line) – a 15 to 20 minute walk across Hyde Park to the Society.
Knightsbridge
BUS There are several bus routes which stop outside or within the vicinity of the Society building. 9: Hammersmith/Aldwych 10: Hammersmith/King’s Cross 52: Willesden/Victoria 360: Kensington/Elephant and Castle 452: Wandsworth/Willesden
High Street Kensington
RAIL The nearest mainline railway stations are London Victoria (you can then take the 52 bus to the Society) and London Paddington (a 25 minute walk to the Society). BICYCLE Bicycles can be locked against our bike stands, located at the main entrance on Exhibition Road. Space is limited.Bicycles are left at their owner’s risk. Please make sure bicycles are secured as thieves are known to work in the area. CAR There are no car parking facilities at the Society. The Society is no longer located within central London’s Congestion Charge area.
South Kensington
There is limited public parking in Hyde Park, although car parking restrictions operate in the area, often until late at night.
GETTING THERE
TUBE South Kensington (Circle, District and Piccadilly Lines) – a 10 minute walk up Exhibition Road (beyond the Science Museum and Imperial College) to the Society.
Drayson Room
Kensington Gore Entrance
Ondaatje Theatre
Sunley Room Hall
Ambulatory Map Room
Education Centre
Terrace
Cloakroom
Exhibition Rd. Entrance Reception
ITION ROA D
Tea Room
Knightsbridge Tube Station (Picadilly Line)
GETTING AROUND
KENSINGTON GORE
52 & 452)
(Circle & District Lines)
SESSION
10:00-10:30
Registration & Coffee
10:30-10:45
IEA/Event introduction
Mark Littlewood
10:45-11:30
The Triumph of Capitalism
Johan Norberg and Henrik Jönsson
15:00-15:30
Is Capitalism a force for good in the world? Johan Norberg and Henrik Jönsson team up to explain exactly how capitalism has triumphed by making the world a more peaceful and prosperous place. 11:30-13:00 The Education Revolution
Professor Pauline Dixon, Toby Young Dale J Stephens, Chair: Dr Steve Davies
The Economics of Prison Gangs
Dr David Skarbek
Economics is relevant to every aspect of our lives, but what does that mean for those in prison? David Skarbek will examine how inmates create self-governance institutions to promote economic and social interactions behind bars. In short, he’s going to explain the social order of the underworld and how prison gangs keep you safe. 15:30-16:00
Coffee Break
16:00-17:15 The Future of Healthcare
Professor Mike Munger, Dr Kristian Niemietz Chair: Ryan Bourne
What is the best way to educate the next generation? There is a revolution taking place around the world in the sphere of education – from flourishing free schools in the UK, to the some of the poorest people in the world educating themselves in the slums of India. What works best? How is technology changing the classroom? What can we expect schools to look like in 20 years’ time? And will formal education even exist?
Which country in the world has the best healthcare? Is the NHS fit for purpose? What are the alternatives? How are our healthcare systems going to change in the future? This session will explore the huge challenges facing healthcare systems and governments across the world. From the problems of ageing populations to the revolutionary potential of new health technologies, we’ll discuss whether the free market can provide effective, universal healthcare.
13:00-14:00
Lunch & Exhibition
17:15-18:00
14:00-15:00
Why I Believe in Free Markets
Driverless cars? Hydroponic foods? Lab-grown organs? Are these just pipe dreams, or are they about to become the norm? Steve Davies will take us on a journey into the future and explain how technology will transform our economy.
Francis Boulle
Entrepreneur and ‘Made in Chelsea’ star, Francis Boulle will talk about his own business interests, recounting stories of gold and diamond exploration and extraction in West Africa and Central America. In particular, he will discuss the relevance of gold, silver and hard assets in an increasingly turbulent global economy. Finally, he will explain his philosophical journey and why he became a libertarian and advocate of free market economics.
18:00-20:00
Keynote – The Economics of Change Dr Steve Davies
Drinks Reception & Exhibition
DAY ONE
SATURDAY 11TH JULY
SESSION
10:00-10:30
Coffee
10:30-11:15
Keynote – Tomorrow 3.0: The Sharing Revolution
Professor Mike Munger
How many times have you heard that ownership brings happiness? Owning your own home, your own car – these have all been staples of ‘The Good Life’ since time immemorial. But could all this be about to change? Right now, we own stuff. But people don’t fundamentally want stuff. What they want is the stream of services that stuff provides, over time. Come and see Professor Mike Munger challenge the orthodoxy by explaining how new technologies are making ownership of many items obsolete and how innovation is about to bring prosperity to more people than ever before. 11:15-12:45 Helping the Poor
June Arunga, Dr Christian Stadler Dr Lynne Kiesling Chair: Professor Philip Booth
Why are some countries rich and others poor? Why have we seen such unprecedented growth in the world economy? Can we ever eliminate poverty? These are just some of the questions to be answered during this session. Most importantly, our speakers will discuss how the free market actually helps the poor. 12:45-13:45
Lunch & Exhibition
13:45-14:15
In Defence of Financial Innovation
Andrew Palmer
What is Financial Innovation? And how has it played an important role in stimulating prosperity throughout history? Andrew Palmer will outline how new developments, such as peer-to-peer
lending, securitised financing of medical research and catastrophe bonds, are helping to tackle some of today’s most intractable problems. 14:15-14:45
The Economics of Sport
Dr Steve Davies
How has the complex order of competitive sport appeared? Why is sport so innovative in ways that governments are not? What are the economic and governance issues facing organised sport and how are they going to overcome them? Steve Davies will explain how organised sport evolves spontaneously and outline the challenges it now faces. 14:45-15:15
The Economics of Game of Thrones Dr Matthew McCaffrey
Why is Game of Thrones so violent? Economist and GoT superfan Matt McCaffrey will explain why bloodshed and corruption are to be expected in a society like Westeros, which can also teach us about the use of power in our own world. Using insights from economics and political science, he argues that the only way to win the Game of Thrones is not to play. 15:15-15:45
How To Change The World
Dr Nigel Ashford
How do you change the world? Can ideas really have big impacts? Nigel Ashford will look back through history and explore the different ways that leaders and the masses have tried to change the world and which have been the most effective. 15:45-16:00
Closing Speech
Dr Steve Davies
DAY TWO
SUNDAY 12TH JULY
SPEAKER
is the founder and CEO of Open Quest Media LLC. In 2011 she was named by Forbes Magazine as one of its ‘20 Youngest Powerful Women in Africa’. She is a founding partner, and was Director of Corporate Affairs, of Black Star Line SA: a technology solution provider in the fields of cell-phone based payments and money transfers, with a strong focus on the African market. Arunga has featured in four documentaries exploring trade, migration, property and wealth in Africa.
Francis Boulle is a gold mining entrepreneur and gold explorer,
and one of the bright, young stars of the cult hit, ‘Made in Chelsea’. He is also the bestselling author of ‘Boulle’s Jewels: The Business of Life’.
Ryan Bourne is Head of Public Policy at the IEA. Ryan appears Dr Nigel Ashford is Senior Programs Officer at the Institute
for Humane Studies (IHS). He joined IHS from the United Kingdom where he was Professor of Politics and Jean Monnet Scholar in European Integration at Staffordshire University. He is a recipient of the International Anthony Fisher Trust Prize for published work which strengthens public understanding of the political economy of the free society.
Professor Philip Booth is Editorial and Programme Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs and Professor of Finance, Public Policy and Ethics at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. He previously worked for the Bank of England as an advisor on financial stability issues and he was also Associate Dean of Cass Business School. He has written widely, including a number of books, on investment, finance, social insurance and pensions as well as on the relationship between Catholic social teaching and economics.
regularly in the national media, including writing for The Times, The Daily Telegraph, ConservativeHome and Spectator Coffee House. He has also appeared on BBC News, Newsnight, Sky News, Jeff Randall Live, Reuters and LBC. He is currently a weekly columnist for CityAM.
SPEAKERS
June Arunga
SPEAKER
was program officer at the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) at George Mason University in Virginia. He joined IHS from the UK where he was Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and Economic History at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Professor Pauline Dixon is one of the founder members of the E.G. West Centre. She gained her PhD at Newcastle University researching private schools in the low-income areas of Hyderabad, India in 2003. She works extensively in Asia and Africa searching for and analysing private and government schools catering for low-income families.
Henrik Jönsson is a self-made entrepreneur, investor and author.
A multi-disciplinary creative, he focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation and value creation. Henrik is currently running a group of Scandinavian IT companies, whose sphere of activities range from mobile software development to online gourmet food delivery and has authored several awardwinning games for Apple devices.
Dr Lynne Kiesling is an Associate Professor of Instruction in
Economics at Northwestern University, Illinois. Her research focuses on the effect of regulatory institutions and their incentives on innovation and technological change, particularly in the electric power industry. She teaches classes in microeconomics, technological change, antitrust and regulation, environmental economics, and history of economic thought, and all of these topics and themes inform her research and other writing.
Mark Littlewood is the Director General of the Institute of
Economic Affairs and the IEA’s Ralph Harris Fellow. In 2014, he was ranked 38th on The Times’ ‘Right-wing Power List’. Mark frequently comments on political and economic issues on television and radio including BBC Question Time, Any Questions, Newsnight, Channel 4 News, Sky News, Radio 4’s Today Programme and LBC.
SPEAKERS
Dr Steve Davies is Education Director at the IEA. Previously he
SPEAKER
University of Manchester. He previously taught at the University of Illinois and Auburn University. His research focuses on the social and economic role of entrepreneurship, and the institutional conditions in which enterprise thrives. To that end, he is primarily interested in entrepreneurial decision making, judgement, strategy, and the history of entrepreneurial ideas.
Professor Mike Munger
is the Professor of Political Science, and Director of the PPE Certificate Program at Duke University, North Carolina. His primary research focus is on the functioning of markets, regulation, and government institutions. A renowned speaker, he has taught at Dartmouth College, University of Texas, and University of North Carolina, as well as working as a staff economist at the Federal Trade Commission during the Reagan Administration.
Dr Kristian Niemietz is a Senior Research Fellow at the
Institute of Economic Affairs. In 2013, he completed a PhD in Political Economy at King’s College London. Kristian previously worked as a Research Fellow at the Berlin-based Institute for Free Enterprise, and at King’s College London, where he taught Economics throughout his postgraduate studies. He is a regular contributor to various journals in the UK, Germany and Switzerland.
Johan Norberg is an author, lecturer and documentary
filmmaker. He lectures about entrepreneurship, global trends and globalisation around the world, and is a frequent commentator in international media. Norberg has written 15 books on a range of topics, including global economics, intellectual history and the science of happiness. In 2001, Johan Norberg published the international bestseller ‘In Defense of Global Capitalism’. The Times Literary Supplement has called him “Frédéric Bastiat’s talented modern heir”.
Andrew Palmer
is the Business Affairs Editor overseeing the coverage of business, finance and science at The Economist. He was formerly Finance Editor and Banking Correspondent, having joined The Economist as Management Correspondent in February 2007. Prior to this, from 2006 he was at the Economist Intelligence Unit, a sister company, where, among other roles, he led the editorial team conducting bespoke research programmes, surveys and reports.
SPEAKERS
Dr Matthew McCaffrey is Lecturer in Enterprise at the
SPEAKER
is a lecturer in Political Economy in the Department of Political Economy at King’s College London. He received a Ph.D. in Economics at George Mason University, after which he taught in the Department of Political Science at Duke University. He has previously presented at a TedX event and his academic articles have been published in numerous journals, including the American Political Science Review, Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization, and Public Choice. He is the author of “The Social Order of the Underworld: How Prison Gangs Govern the American Penal System”.
Dr Christian Stadler
is an Professor in Strategic Management at Warwick Business School. For the past decade he devoted his energy to the investigation of long-living corporations – how they grow, adapt, and consistently beat their competitors. His work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg Business Week, Fast Company, Fortune/CNN and the BBC, and has been translated into 11 languages.
Dale J. Stephens is a sought-after education expert appearing on
major news networks including CNN, ABC, NPR, CBS, Fox, and TechCrunch. He is also the bestselling author of ‘Hacking Your Education: Ditch the Lectures’. In May 2011, Stephens was selected out of hundreds of individuals around the world as a Peter Thiel Fellow, a program recognizing the top twenty-four entrepreneurs around the world under the age of twenty. In addition to leading UnCollege, Stephens advises education and technology companies.
Toby Young
is an associate editor of the Spectator and the author of ‘How to Lose Friends and Alienate People’ and ‘What Every Child Needs to Know’. Young was co-founder of the West London Free School, the first free school to sign a funding agreement with Michael Gove. He now serves as CEO of that school’s charitable trust. Young is a follower of the American educationalist, E.D. Hirsch and an advocate of a traditional, knowledge-based approach to education. His personal website is www.nosacredcows.co.uk.
SPEAKERS
Dr David Skarbek
THANK YO
A big thank you to all the people who have made special thanks to our exhibitors and supporters:
possible, and a
• Adam Smith Institute
• European Students for Liberty
• Big Brother Watch
• The Mercatus Center at George Mason University
• Business for Britain
• The TaxPayers’ Alliance
• Liberty League
• Young Britons’ Foundation
• Raising the Bar London
ECONOMICS WITH ATTITUDE “The best students in our program find our ‘economics with attitude’ contagious, and go on to stellar careers in research, teaching, and public policy.” —Professor Peter Boettke Director of the F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the Mercatus Center
Mercatus Graduate Student Fellowships provide financial assistance, research experience, and hands-on training for graduate students in the social sciences.
Learn more and apply at grad.mercatus.org.
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