Samuel Gregg

Samuel Gregg, a political economist and author who studies Adam Smith and the Scottish Enlightenment, joins to examine Smith’s unified moral and economic thought. They explore how commerce shaped flourishing, Scotland’s political shifts, Smith’s opposition to slavery, mercantilism and cronyism, and why liberal norms emerged from custom and institutions.

Samuel Gregg, President at the American Institute for Economic Research, shares insights on the life of Michael Novak, a pivotal figure in Catholic thought and capitalism. They discuss the evolution of Catholic identity in 20th-century America and Novak's journey from journalist to public intellectual. Key topics include Novak's ideological shift from liberalism to a capitalist perspective, his critiques of liberation theology, and his lasting influence on the Acton Institute, enriched with personal anecdotes that highlight his passionate engagement with faith and economics.

In this conversation, Samuel Gregg, Director of Research at the Acton Institute and author of "The Essential Natural Law," delves into the core principles of natural law and their historical roots. He discusses how natural law shapes our understanding of justice, human rights, and economics, linking philosophical traditions to modern challenges. Gregg also highlights St. Thomas Aquinas's lasting impact on moral dilemmas and underscores the relevance of natural law in fostering human flourishing, making moral guidance accessible to all.

Join Dr. Samuel Gregg, the Friedrich Hayek Chair in Economics and a political economy expert from Oxford, as he unpacks the complexities of industrial policy. He challenges misconceptions about taxation and the so-called 'China shock,' arguing that job losses are often overstated. Gregg emphasizes the importance of deregulation for the semiconductor industry and critiques the failures of industrial policies in various regions. He also stresses the critical role of price theory in economic education and its impact on inflation and taxation.

Samuel Gregg, president of the American Institute for Economic Research and Hayek scholar, discusses why economics must be made accessible to everyday people. They explore free trade versus protectionism, rising collectivist trends across the spectrum, and the need to pair empirical analysis with moral arguments to make markets emotionally and politically persuasive.