WN 250 Activities — throughout 2026
It was on March 9, 1776 that The Wealth of Nations appeared, so 2026 is the 250th anniversary. On this page we will collected notes and photos of WN 250 activities that program affiliates participate in.
Dan gives WN 250 lecture at James Madison University
On Feb 4, 2026, JMU professor and GMU alum Bob Subrick hosted Dan to give a WN 250 lecture before an audience of 60 students and faculty. Afterward, JMU professor and GMU Econ alum John Robinson, Dan, JMU prof and GMU Econ alum Bob Subrick, JMU Philosophy prof Bill Knorpp, and Todd Peckarsky at dinner:
Dan and Todd with the Robinson clan:
Dan publishes paper on Adam Smith's Spirit of '76
Dan Klein published a paper with the Independent Institute, entltied "Adam Smith's Anti-Hegemist Spirit of '76". Read it here. (And the piece was republished in Sweden at Svensk Tidskrift, here.)
Erik Matson and Sandra Peart discuss The Wealth of Nations
Garrett Brown interviewed Erik Matson and Sandra Peart on the topic of The Wealth of Nations: Two hundred and fifty years after its publication, Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations remains both celebrated and misunderstood. In this episode, scholars Sandra Peart and Erik Matson help us see beyond the caricatures to discover Smith’s moral vision — one that challenges both colonial empires and modern assumptions about markets, virtue, and human equality.
Listen to the interview and reaad the transcript of the conversation here.
GMU Econ event organized by Garett Jones, to commerate WN 250
Feb 18: GMU Econ featured a commeration of WN 250 with GMU Econ Profs Don Boudreaux, Peter Boettke, Mark Koyama, and Dan Klein, followed by a reception, all orgnized and sponsored by the generosity of Econ Prof Garett Jones. Thank you, Garett!, and Taylor and others who made it happen!
Dan visits Wake Forest University
Feb 24: Professor Robert Whaples of Wake Forest University hosted Dan to speak on WN 250 — A rich, sweet text, as the WN cake from the party shows here:
Dan, Adam, and Robert:
March 9: Dan joins Johan Norberg and Charlotta Stern for a WN 250 Ratio Institute event in Stockholm
The Ratio Institute (Stockholm) organized a WN 250 event. Videos:
Charlotta Stern's introduction followed by Dan's speech on Smith as moral authority
Johan Norberg's speech: Adam Smith and the Liberal Arc in Sweden
March 9: Dan publishes "Adam Smith's Moral Authority" in sixteen languages
Dan's essay marking the 250th to the day appeared at Law & Liberty and was translated into fifteen other languages.
Erik and Dan talk with GMU Econ alum Paul Mueller of AIER
Paul Mueller—a Program alum and Smith scholar—hosts Erik and Dan for his "The Economist Next Door" AIER podcast. The episode is "Adam Smith at 250: Lessons on Markets, Morality, and Government."
Special 250th edition of Wealth of Nations, with Introduction by Erik Matson
The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) is releasing a special edition of The Wealth of Nations in honor of the 250th anniversary and to commemorate FEE's 80th anniversary. The introduction for this new edition is written by Erik Matson, commemorating both anniversaries.
Amazing Academics with Phillip Davies, YouTube channel
Dan was interview on Adam Smith and WN 250.
May 14: Seattle: University of Washington featuring Dan
Hosted by UW Professor of Political Science Anthony Gill for a public lecture and additional classroom activities with UW students.
Seattle: Greg Rehmke, Dan, Tony Gill, and two UW students