Summer Seminars

May 26-31, 2026 | College of Charleston, Charleston South Carolina

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 conference 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.

Lodging, meals and a $500 travel stipend are provided.

Application deadline: March 23, 2026

June 7-13, 2026 | West Virginia University, Morgantown West Virginia

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.

Faculty 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 Academy On Capitalism, The Stephenson Institute for Classical Liberalism, and AIER.

Lodging, meals and a $500 travel stipend are provided.

Application Deadline: April 5, 2026

June 21 –28, 2026 | University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

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 accounting, marketing, management, and finance operate within a classical liberal framework.

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.

Lodging, meals and a $500 travel stipend are provided.

Application Deadline: April 19, 2026

July 5 – 11, 2026 | Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana

At this seminar we will explore classical liberalism in theory and in practice. During our time together, we will examine the origins of classical liberalism, beginning with discussion of the emergence and development of classical liberal thought in the work of Hobbes, Locke, the American Founders, and others.

Using the work of Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek, Milton Friedman, Robert Nozick, and others alongside contemporary classical liberals including Deirdre McCloskey, Robert Higgs, Terry Anderson, James Otteson, and others, we will explore how the application of classical liberal principles impacts both individuals as well as whole societies. We conclude by examining how those principles suggest better approaches to government, public policy, and social organization.

This seminar is designed for undergraduate students and early stage graduate students and will be conducted by scholars from Wabash College, AIER, and other classical liberal academics at universities.

This Seminar is co-sponsored by The Stephenson Institute at Wabash College and The American Institute for Economic Research.

Lodging, meals and a $500 travel stipend are provided.

Application Deadline: May 3, 2026

July 19-25, 2026 | University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, Illinois

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.

Unlike traditional market-oriented approaches, this seminar explores how accounting, marketing, management, and finance function within a classical liberal framework. Here, we focus on how these business disciplines contribute to individual freedom, voluntary exchange, and minimal government intervention. The market serves as a decentralized platform for free interaction between individuals and businesses, encouraging innovation, competition, and efficient resource allocation without heavy regulatory oversight.

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 for Classical Liberalism at Wabash College, and AIER.

Lodging, meals and a $500 travel stipend are provided.

Application Deadline: May 17, 2026

July 19-24, 2026 | Prague, Czech Republic

The 2026 Classical Liberalism in PPE Seminar will be an intensive, week-long survey of philosophical, economic, and political ideas that have played key roles in the history and development of classical liberalism. The program will bring together students from across the U.S. and Europe to study big ideas in the history of economics and philosophy.

The daily programs will consist of two sessions, each featuring one hour of lecture followed 75 minutes of group discussion. Participants will have also ample time for exploring the beauty, history, art, and energy of Prague.

The registration fee for North American students is $1,000. The registration fee includes round-trip airfare, lodging, and a meal allowance. Successful applicants will be asked to make the payment to confirm their participation.

Important Dates

Priority Application Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Notification Date for Successful Applicants: Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Registration Payment Deadline: Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

Applications will be accepted after the priority deadline until Saturday, February 28, 2026.