The next 250 years
16 November 2026, 5:45 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Adam Smith Institute, 23 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3DJ
Think tank: Adam Smith Institute
This event hosted by UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute discusses how Smith’s core insights apply to our rapidly changing future.
When he published The Wealth of Nations in 1776, Adam Smith provided the blueprint for modern economics and political economy, uprooting conventional mercantilist assumptions. Two and a half centuries later, his seminal text remains as influential and widely read as ever.
Co-hosted by the Adam Smith Institute and the Society of Professional Economists, The Next 250 Years asks a fundamental question: how do Smith’s core insights apply to our rapidly changing future?
We stand at a structural watershed that mirrors the dawn of the First Industrial Revolution. As Artificial Intelligence fundamentally redefines human labour, capital productivity, and value creation, we must ask whether Smith’s mechanics of the division of labour still hold—and who the ultimate winners and losers of this technological leap will be. Simultaneously, breakthroughs across the life sciences promise to reshape how we live, raising crucial questions about regulation, innovation, and prosperity.
Geopolitically, the “End of History” seems to have stalled. In a world increasingly dominated by state intervention, protectionism, and authoritarianism, Smith’s sharp critiques of mercantilism and government overreach are suddenly urgent once again. How do the principles of voluntary exchange and spontaneous order survive in this fragmented, high-friction world?
To unpack these questions, we are bringing together an exceptional 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, Oxford University 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 16th November for an evening of debate and rigorous intellectual inquiry as we map out how Smith’s legacy will shape the centuries ahead.
Event Schedule:
5:45 PM: Doors open
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Panel Discussion & Q&A
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Drinks Reception
Location: Adam Smith Institute, 23 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3DJ
Please note this event is exclusively for over 18s. If we reach capacity, we will add you to our waiting list.
