Adam Smith Business School

Leading experts at some of the world’s most prestigious universities will celebrate and discuss Adam Smith’s legacy during his tercentenary, through the University of Glasgow led Smith Around the World lecture series.

Over the course of 2023, places of learning across the globe will undertake their own events to mark the 300^th anniversary of the famous Scot’s birth.

Academics and economists will explore themes related to Adam Smith as 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 that will see lectures happening at universities in Sydney, Beijing, Tokyo, the West Indies, Barcelona, Canberra, Mexico City, Toulouse, Hong Kong, Oxford, Nairobi, London, and at Duke and McGill universities.

Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director of IIM Indore inaugurated the event series. In his inaugural address, Prof. Rai highlighted the synergy between IIM Indore and Adam Smith Business School on tackling global challenges through business education.

Dr Xiang Li gave the audience an overview of the University of Glasgow, its connection with Adam Smith, the tercentenary celebration programme and in particular the plans for the Smith Around the World Lecture Series and invited four panel speakers to share their views on Smith and his legacies.

Head of Adam Smith Business School, Professor John Finch, started the panel session by discussing ‘Adam Smith’s Agencies and Soft Powers’, sharing how Smith’s efficiency in making a difference, making decisions, and thought processes and actions are powers that look remarkably soft. Professor Alex Thomas, School of Arts and Science, Azim Premji University, discussed Smith and Classical Political Economy, followed by Professor Subhasankar Chattopadhyay at IIM Indore, speaking about Smith’s Invisible Hand and the Price Theory. In his address, Professor Chattopadhyay discussed how the concept of the Invisible Hand emerged and how it promoted an end that was not intended.

Dr V Anantha Nageswaran, the Chief Economic Advisor of the Government of India connected with the audience online and addressed his views on the relevance of Adam Smith in today’s world. Professor Pritam Ranjan, Dean of Research at IIM Indore delivered the vote of thanks and concluded the event.

As part of the delegation to India to develop partnerships, Professor Nuran Acur, Dr Belgin Okay-Somerville, and Mr Sanju Dominic also attended the event.

IIM Indore is the Business School’s first strategic partner in India.

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First published: 17 February 2023