# Event Details - **Event Name**: Modern Enquiries into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 05 Mar, 2026 at 09:00 am – Fri, 06 Mar, 2026 at 04:00 pm - **Event Description**: International Prosperity and Development 250 Years After Adam SmithAbout this Event5–6 March 2026 | King's College, Cambridge & The Sidgwick SiteAbout this eventA two-day conference marking 250 years since the publication of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations (1776). Leading scholars will reflect on the history and theory of long-term economic growth and development, concluding with a public forum exploring key issues in future global development, comprising Sir Tim Besley, Matthew Agarwala, Jane Humphries and (in the chair) Gillian Tett.This gathering will be followed by the University of Glasgow's major commemorative conference in October 2026, which will launch an accompanying volume published by Cambridge University Press.Convened by Professor Gareth Austin (Cambridge), Professor Alex Trew (Glasgow) and Professor Toke Aidt (Cambridge).ProgrammeDay 1: Thursday 5 March (Keynes Hall, King's College)9.15–9.25 Welcome Gillian Tett (Provost, King's) and Gareth Austin (Research Director of King's College)9.25–10.45 Session 1: The Wealth of Nations Chair: John Dunn (Cambridge)Alex Trew (Glasgow): 'Adam Smith's Economic System at 250: Imaginary Machines for a Transformed World'Craig Smith (Glasgow): 'The Principles which lead and direct Philosophical Enquiries illustrated by the Wealth of Nations'11.00–13.00 Session 2: Adam Smith's World Chair: Sriya Iyer (Cambridge)Jane Humphries (Oxford): 'The Invisible Hands of Women and Children in Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations'Simon Szreter (Cambridge): 'The Poor Law, Settlement and the Division of Labour'Regina Grafe (Cambridge): 'Thinking with Adam Smith: Factor Prices in Colonial Latin America'14.00–15.20 Session 3: Religion and Moral Sentiment Chair: Toke Aidt (Cambridge)Sascha O. Becker (Warwick): 'Religion and the Wealth of Nations'Tim Besley (LSE): 'Moral Sentiments in Market Economies' (with Maitreesh Ghatak)15.35–16.55 Session 4: Long-Term Perspectives on British Economic Development Chair: Martin Daunton (Cambridge)Leigh Shaw-Taylor (Cambridge): 'Smithian growth in England and Wales 1415–1820'Eoin McLaughlin (Heriot-Watt): 'The Inclusive Wealth of Nations: the Case of the UK, 1760–2020'Day 2: Friday 6 MarchMorning (Keynes Hall, King's College)9.00–11.00 Session 5: Finance and Economic Development Chair: Charles Read (Oxford/Cambridge)Craig Muldrew (Cambridge): 'The Importance of Finance Capital for the Wealth of a Nation'J. Vernon Henderson (LSE): 'Adam Smith and the City (tentative title)' (with Leigh Shaw-Taylor and Jacques Thisse)Tiago Cavalcanti (Cambridge): 'Financial Intermediaries and Economic Development'11.15–12.45 Session 6: From Colonies to Global Economic Development Chair: Nuala Zahedieh (Edinburgh/Cambridge)Pat Hudson (Cardiff): 'Growth and Development: Smith and the Colonies'Gareth Austin (Cambridge): 'Causes of the Wealth of Nations: Economic Development over Time and Space'Afternoon (LG19, Arthur Goodhart Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Law, Sidgwick Site)14.00–16.00 Public Forum: The Next 25/250 Years Chair: Gillian Tett (Provost, King's) Panellists: Sir Tim Besley (LSE), Matthew Agarwala (Kent), Jane Humphries (Oxford)A forward-looking discussion on the prospects for global prosperity and development. Free and open to the public. Students especially welcome.The Public Forum will be recorded and made available on YouTube following the event. Earlier sessions will not be recorded or live-streamed.VenuesKeynes Hall, King's College King's Parade, Cambridge CB2 1ST Day 1 and Day 2 morning sessions. Enter via the Porter's Lodge on King's Parade.Arthur Goodhart Lecture Theatre (LG19) Faculty of Law, Sidgwick Site, West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DZ Day 2 afternoon Public Forum. Approximately 10 minutes' walk from King's College.AttendanceAttendance is free. Please register via the Eventbrite page to secure your place and receive programme updates.The Friday afternoon Public Forum is free and open to all without registration, but please arrive early to secure a seat. Students are especially welcome.Both venues are wheelchair-accessible. Please contact the organisers in advance if you have specific access requirements.ContactProfessor Gareth Austin: gma31@cam.ac.uk Dr Nick Fitzhenry: nf436@cam.ac.ukOrganising Committee: Gareth Austin, Alex Trew, Toke Aidt, Caro Schade, Christoph Hess, Nick FitzhenrySupported by King's College Cambridge and the Ellen McArthur Trust. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/cambridge/modern-enquiries-into-the-nature-and-causes-of-the-wealth-of-nations/100001981711771254 - **Event Categories**: business, art, theatre, conferences, parades, virtual, koningsdag - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: Cambridge - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: King's College, Cambridge - **lat**: 52.2043683 - **long**: 0.1176625 - **full address**: King's College, Cambridge, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Modern Enquiries into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events2/banners/49f40e8f00d2f5c3706a5661652261858869c27582b1eadbc91cd797fc9a0aaa-rimg-w1200-h480-dc5e355d-gmir.png?v=1771110181 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Modern Enquiries into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations being held? - **A:** Modern Enquiries into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations takes place on Thu, 05 Mar, 2026 at 09:00 am to Fri, 06 Mar, 2026 at 04:00 pm at King's College, Cambridge, United Kingdom. - **Q**: Who is organizing Modern Enquiries into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations? - **A:** Modern Enquiries into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is organized by King's Wealth of Nations Conference Comittee. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Modern Enquiries into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events2/banners/49f40e8f00d2f5c3706a5661652261858869c27582b1eadbc91cd797fc9a0aaa-rimg-w1200-h480-dc5e355d-gmir.png?v=1771110181", "startDate": "2026-03-05", "endDate": "2026-03-06", "url": "https://allevents.in/cambridge/modern-enquiries-into-the-nature-and-causes-of-the-wealth-of-nations/100001981711771254", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "King's College, Cambridge", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "King's Parade", "postalCode": "CB2 1ST", "addressLocality": "Cambridge", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "52.2043683", "longitude": "0.1176625" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "International Prosperity and Development 250 Years After Adam Smith", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-08", "availabilityEnds": "2026-03-06", "validFrom": "2026-04-08", "lowPrice": "0.00", "highPrice": "0.00", "price": "0.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/cambridge/modern-enquiries-into-the-nature-and-causes-of-the-wealth-of-nations/100001981711771254" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-08", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-04-08", "url": "https://allevents.in/cambridge/modern-enquiries-into-the-nature-and-causes-of-the-wealth-of-nations/100001981711771254", "price": 0, "name": "General Admission (Free)" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Kings Wealth of Nations Conference Comittee", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/kings-wealth-of-nations-conference-comittee/27467568" } ] } ] ```