reTHINK Capitalism: Reconciling the Moral Balance Sheet of Capitalism

As the Occupy Wall Street protests remind us, one of the central objections to capitalism is the inequality it enables. The worry is not merely about differences in how much people can afford to buy: There are deeper social problems associated with great inequality. What exactly is the nature of these deeper problems? Does capitalism offer some benefit that compensates for these problems? James Otteson will address these issues using his book, "Adam Smith's Marketplace of Life," as a guide. Otteson's lecture will consider how Smith's works on economics and morality applies to his understanding of markets, language and other social institutions.

The event is part of the McConnell Center's free, public "reTHINK" lecture series.