01/29/2026
Dear Capitaf Scholars,
The American Institute for Economic Research is excited to announce a series of outstanding educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students this summer:
• Classical Liberalism: The American Founding and Adam Smith at 250
May 26–31, 2026
• Classical Liberalism and Public Policy Seminar
June 7–13, 2026
• Classical Liberalism and Business Seminar
June 21–27, 2026
• Seminar in Classical Liberalism
July 5–11, 2026
• Classical Liberalism and The Market Seminar
July 19–25, 2026
A $500 travel stipend is provided at the conclusion of the seminar. Meals and accommodations are included for the duration of the program.
Classical Liberalism: The American Founding and Adam Smith at 250 Seminar
May 26 – 31, 2026 | College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
Application Deadline: March 23, 2026
In 1776, the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations and the American Founding helped shape ideas about liberty, markets, and government that still matter today. This seminar explores the classical liberal tradition and how Smith’s political economy and the American Founders’ ideas addressed questions of economic freedom, the role of government, personal freedom, and social cooperation. Students will participate in lectures and discussions with scholars and with one another to gain a deeper understanding of the ideas that created the free and prosperous society Smith and the American Founders envisioned, and why those ideas remain relevant in the modern world.
Co-sponsored by the Center for Public Choice and Market Process, the Stephenson Institute for Classical Liberalism, and AIER.
Classical Liberalism and Public Policy Seminar
June 7 – 13, 2026 | West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
Application Deadline: April 5, 2026
This seminar is designed for undergraduate and early-stage graduate students interested in how classical liberal principles shape public policy. Participants will explore the intellectual foundations of classical liberalism and examine how its core ideas, individual liberty, limited government, voluntary cooperation, and the rule of law, inform policymaking.
Drawing on the works of major thinkers, including John Locke, Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek, James Buchanan, Elinor Ostrom, and contemporary scholars, the seminar will investigate how public policy can either support or hinder the spontaneous order and decentralized decision-making emphasized by classical liberalism. Through case studies and discussion-based sessions, students will analyze real-world policy issues, considering how classical liberal ideas apply to modern challenges in government, markets, and society.
Scholars from West Virginia University, University of Illinois Springfield, Wabash College, AIER, and other institutions will guide participants as they connect theoretical insights to practical policy debates.
Co-sponsored by the Knee Center at West Virginia University, the Stephenson Institute for Classical Liberalism, and AIER.
Classical Liberalism and Business Seminar
June 21 – 27, 2026 | University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Application Deadline: April 19, 2026
This seminar is tailored for undergraduate and early-stage graduate students interested in the intersection of classical liberalism and business. We will explore the voluntary nature of classical liberal principles and their application to the business world, using examples from businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and renowned economists such as Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek, and Milton Friedman.
Unlike typical business courses, this seminar focuses on how entrepreneurship, accounting, marketing, management, and finance inform our understanding of a classical liberal framework and how a knowledge of classical liberalism can improve our professional lives.
Scholars from the University of Illinois Springfield and Chicago, Wabash College, AIER, and other institutions will lead the discussions.
Co-sponsored by the Academy on Capitalism, the Stephenson Institute at Wabash College, and AIER.
Upon acceptance to the Classical Liberalism and Business Seminar, a registration fee of $150, covering food and housing costs, is required. However, a generous donor is offering a number of scholarships for students who, during the application process, submit an original essay (maximum 500 words) addressing the value of the seminar to their education and why they should be considered.
The Seminar in Classical Liberalism
July 5 – 11, 2026 | Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana
Application Deadline: May 5, 2025
Join us for an engaging seminar exploring the origins and applications of classical liberalism, both in theory and practice. We will examine key ideas from thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek, Milton Friedman, and others, alongside contemporary classical liberals such as Deirdre McCloskey, Robert Higgs, and James Otteson. Through these discussions, we will uncover how classical liberal principles influence individual freedoms and societal organization, with a focus on public policy and governance.
Co-sponsored by the Stephenson Institute for Classical Liberalism and AIER.
Classical Liberalism and The Market Seminar
July 19 – 25, 2026 | University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, Illinois
Application Deadline: May 17, 2026
This seminar is designed for undergraduate and early graduate students with an interest in the intersection of classical liberalism and market principles. Participants will delve into the voluntary foundations of classical liberal ideas and see how these concepts apply to the world of markets, illustrated with insights from entrepreneurs, market leaders, and influential economists like Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek, and Milton Friedman.
We will explore the relationship between the market and decentralized transactions in the classical liberal framework of individual freedom and economic freedom. We will explore how market transactions, and the business disciplines that examine them, interact with our understanding of individual freedom, voluntary exchange, and minimal government intervention. Scholars from the University of Illinois Springfield and Chicago, Wabash College, AIER, and other institutions will lead the discussions.
Co-sponsored by the Academy on Capitalism, the Stephenson Institute at Wabash College, and AIER.
Upon acceptance to the Classical Liberalism and The Market Seminar, a registration fee of $150, covering food and housing costs, is required. However, a generous donor is offering a number of scholarships for students who, during the application process, submit an original essay (maximum 500 words) addressing the value of the seminar to their education and why they should be considered.
Apply for the Summer Seminars here:
