Smith around the world lecture series
Throughout 2023, our prestigious global partner institutions are undertaking their own events to mark the Adam Smith tercentenary.
Leading experts at some of the world's most prestigious universities are discussing Adam Smith’s legacy during his tercentenary, through the Smith Around the World lecture series.
Academics and economists are exploring themes related to Adam Smith as educator, citizen and scholar, considering the public and academic impact of Smith’s ideas in today’s society.
The inaugural lecture took place in Indore, India, on 10 January at the Indian Institute of Management. This marked the start of a series of lectures due to take place throughout the year at universities across the globe.
The second lecture in the series was hosted by the Chicago Booth School of Business and delivered by Sam Peltzman, Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the Booth School of Business, on 17 February.
Professor Graeme Roy, Dean of External Relations at the University of Glasgow, said: "Smith Around the World is an excellent opportunity for us to connect and engage international peers in celebrating the work, life and impact of our famous alumnus, and to bring Adam Smith into the conversations we are having around the globe about the challenges we all face today."
"Our inaugural event in Indore has already demonstrated how different countries will bring their own perspectives and conversations to bear around Smith’s ideas. This was further explored by Professor Peltzman, who discussed misinterpretations of Smith in American politics, and his relevance in modern economics.
"We hope that the learning will continue to inform thinking and policy and across the world, with regards to Smith and beyond."
Find out more
For details of upcoming lectures and coverage of recent events, visit our Smith Around the World webpages and register for our Adam Smith 300 year anniversary newsletter.
Next in the lecture series
The University of the West Indies
5 April
Adam Smith 300 – Innovation and Sustainable Growth
At this event, an expert panel will discuss the proposition: "Like Adam Smith, we need to champion Innovation and Long-term Investment to achieve Sustainability and Growth".
Hosted by the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management.
Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
12 April
International Seminar: The theoretical legacy of Adam Smith
University of Sydney
16 June
Adam Smith at 300
Public lecture by Tony Aspromourgos, Emeritus Professor of Economics in the University of Sydney.
Previous lectures
Our Smith Around the World webpages will be continuously updated with event coverage throughout the year. The lectures that took place in Australian National University and Hong Kong University Business School can be watched in full on YouTube:
Adam Smith's Case Against the British Empire
In this lecture Dr William Coleman critiqued Smith’s theoretical case that the British Empire was impoverishing of Great Britain.
Triumph of the Market: What China's past and present tell us
This lecture examined China's patterns of economic growth and analysed the connections to Adam Smith's theories.
