The Next 250 Years

When he published The Wealth of Nations in 1776, Adam Smith provided the blueprint for modern economics and political economy, turning conventional mercantilist assumptions on their head. Two and a half centuries later, his groundbreaking text remains as influential and widely read as ever. Together with the Adam Smith Institute and the Society of Professional Economists, The Next 250 Years poses a fundamental question: How are Smith's core insights relevant to our rapidly changing future? We stand at a structural turning point that resembles the beginning of the First Industrial Revolution. As artificial intelligence fundamentally redefines human labor, capital productivity, and value creation, we must ask whether Smith's mechanisms of division of labor still hold true – and who the ultimate winners and losers of this technological leap will be. At the same time, breakthroughs in the life sciences promise to reshape our lives, raising critical questions about regulation, innovation, and prosperity. Geopolitically, the “end of history” seems to have hit a standstill. In a world increasingly dominated by state intervention, protectionism, and authoritarianism, Smith's sharp critiques of mercantilism and state overreach suddenly feel urgent again. How do the principles of voluntary exchange and spontaneous order survive in this fragmented, friction-filled world? To discuss these questions, we bring together a distinguished panel of academics, politicians, and industry experts: Jesse Norman MP — Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Dr. Linda Yueh CBE — Fellow in Economics, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford and Adjunct Professor of Economics, London Business School Filippo Gaddo — Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Silvia Andreoletti — Head of Communications, Adam Smith Institute Join us at the Adam Smith Institute on November 16 for an evening of debate and rigorous intellectual inquiry as we discuss how Smith's legacy will shape the coming centuries. Event Schedule: 17:45: Doors open 18:00 – 19:00: Panel discussion & Q&A 19:00 – 20:00: Reception with drinks Location: Adam Smith Institute, 23 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3DJ Speakers: Jesse Norman MP Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Conservative MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire Jesse Norman MP is the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. He held a number of ministerial positions from 2016 to 2024, including Paymaster General and Financial Secretary to the Treasury, where he oversaw the pandemic fund programme and established the UK Infrastructure Bank. He was educated at Oxford (Cultural Studies) and holds a Master's and a Doctorate in Philosophy from UCL and has held fellowships at UCL, St Andrews, and All Souls College, Oxford. His books include Edmund Burke: Politician, Philosopher, Prophet (2013), Adam Smith: What He Thought and Why It Matters (2018), and a historical novel about the toxic rivalry between Francis Bacon and Edward Coke, The Twisted Staircase (2023), which he has also adapted for the stage. Jesse is also the co-founder and chairman of NMITE (www.nmite.ac.uk) in Hereford, the first greenfield university in the UK since 1974. NMITE opened in 2021 and recently launched the first undergraduate programme in autonomous robotics (drone technologies) in the UK. Their mission is to change the lives of young people, revolutionise higher education in the UK, and regenerate Herefordshire and the Marches. Dr. Linda Yueh CBE Fellow in Economics, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford and Adjunct Professor of Economics, London Business School. Dr. Linda Yueh CBE is a Fellow in Economics at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford and an Adjunct Professor of Economics at London Business School. Her latest book is The Great Crashes: Lessons from Global Crises and How to Prevent Them, selected as one of the best new economics books by the Financial Times. Her previous book, The Great Economists: How Their Ideas Can Help Us Today, was one of the best economics books of the year according to The Times and one of the best books of the year according to Newsweek. Filippo Gaddo Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Filippo Gaddo is a Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal Infrastructure & Capital Projects in London. He leads the UK Economics practice of A&M, with primary focuses on economic policy and strategy, energy policy, market and regulatory due diligence, independent assessments, infrastructure consulting, and capital project strategy. Filippo has over 20 years of experience with government agencies and major consulting firms, providing deep insights into the economy and the energy industry. Previously, he was Managing Director at Macro Advisory Partners and Chief Economist as well as Head of Transaction Advisory at Arup. Filippo began his career in the UK public service, where he served for seven years as a senior economist on the energy policy team. Silvia Andreoletti Head of Communications, Adam Smith Institute Silvia Andreoletti is the Head of Communications at the Adam Smith Institute. Before joining ASI, Silvia was a financial journalist covering trade and commodity markets. She graduated from New College, Oxford, with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.