Past Annual Conferences

The Bridwell Institute's annual conference is a half-day conference held each fall. The annual conference attracts some of today's leading academics, policy makers, and thought leaders to address various topics. Previous conferences have featured Thomas Sowell, George Will, John Mackey, John Allison, William J. O'Neil, Walter Williams, Phil Gramm, James K. Galbraith, and others. 

 

  • 2019: Past as Prologue: What History Teaches Us About Today's Economy

    • Tim Harford, Author of The Undercover Economist (Video)
    • Richard Alm, Southern Methodist University (Video)
    • W. Michael Cox, Southern Methodist University (Video)
    • Douglas A. Irwin, Dartmouth College (Video)
    • Jayme Lemke, George Mason University (Video)
    • Edward Stringham, American Institute for Economic Research (Video)
    • Ning Wang, Zhejiang University (Video)

  • 2018: Ethical Conundrums of Capitalism

    • Vernon Smith, Chapman University (2002 Nobel Laureate) (Video)
    • James Otteson, Wake Forest University (Video)
    • Scott Cunningham, Baylor University (Video)
    • W. Michael Cox, Southern Methodist University (Video)
    • Jessica Flanigan, University of Richmond (Video)
    • Brink Lindsey, Niskanan Center (Video)

  • 2016: Capitalism: Curse or Cure?

    • Matthew Ridley, author of The Rational Optimist and The Evolution of Everything

    • Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind and Grand Pursuit

    • W. Michael Cox, co-author of The Myths of Rich and Poor

    • Alex Epstein, author of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels

    • Robert Gordon, author of The Rise and Fall of American Growth

    • Marian Tupy, editor of HumanProgress.org

  • 2015: Keeping the Texas Economy Strong

    • Sen. Phil Gramm, former U.S. Senator from Texas (Video)

    • Brooke Rollins, Texas Public Policy Foundation (Video)

    • Dean Stansel, Florida Gulf Coast University (Video)

    • James Galbraith, University of Texas (Video)

    • W. Michael Cox, Southern Methodist University (Video)

    • George F. Will

  • 2014: The Road to Freedom: Migration and the Search for a Better Life

    • Caroline Brettell, SMU (Video)

    • Nathan Ashby, UTEP (Video)

    • Robert Lawson, SMU (Video)

    • Alex Novrasteh, Cato Institute (Video)

    • Richard Vedder, Ohio University (Video)

    • Jim Prewitt, Landmark Nurseries

  • 2013: Entrepreneurship in Education: The Key to Rebuilding America's Middle Class

    • W. Michael Cox, Director, O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom (Video)

    • James Tooley, University of Newcastle upon Tyne (Video)

    • Jeff Sandefer, Acton MBA & Acton Academy (Video)

    • Eugenia Toma, University of Kentucky (Video)

    • Bryan Caplan, George Mason University (Video)

  • 2012: The Future of Economic Freedom

    • W. Michael Cox, Director, O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom (Video)

    • Robert A. Lawson, SMU (Video)

    • Benjamin Powell, Suffolk University (Video)

    • Christopher Coyne, George Mason University (Video)

    • Michael Clemens, Center for Global Development (Video)

    • Michael Strong, FLOW, Conscious Capitalism, Inc., and the Free Cities Institute (Video)

    • Veronique de Rugy, Mercatus Center at George Mason University (Video)

    • John Mackey, Whole Foods Market, Inc. (Video)

  • 2011: Free Market Solutions for Today's Toughest Problems

    • Brian Habacivch, Fellon McCord (Video)

    • W. Michael Cox, SMU Cox O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom (Video)

    • John Goodman, National Center for Policy Analysis (Video)

    • Lisa Snell, Reason Foundation (Video)

    • Michael Tanner, Cato Institute (Video)

    • Robert Stavins, Harvard Environmental Economics Program (Video)

    • Warren Stephens, Stephens Inc. (Video)

  • 2010: Reviving Economic Freedom in America

    • Walter Williams, George Mason University (Video)

    • W. Michael Cox, SMC Cox O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom (Video) 

    • David Henderson, Hoover Institution at Stanford University (Video)

    • Fred L. Smith, Competitive Enterprise Institute (Video)

    • William J. O’Neil, Investor’s Business Daily

    • Thomas Sowell, Hoover Institution at Stanford University (Video)

    • Stephen Moore, The Wall Street Journal (Video)

    • John Allison, BB&T (Retired) and Wake Forest University (Video)


  • 2009: What Do Businesses Need to Succeed in Today’s Competitive Global Economy?

    • Richard W. Fisher, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Video)

    • W. Michael Cox, O'Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom (Video)

    • Robert A. Lawson, Auburn Unviersity (Video)

    • Richard K. Templeton, Texas Instruments (Video)

    • Panel Discussion with Thomas J. Falk, Kimberly-Clark

    • Gustavo Calvo Paz, Kimberly-Clark Eastern Europe

    • Stephen Shao, Kimberly-Clark China (video)