Wealth250

The University of Chicago's Examination of the Foundation, Frontier, and Future of Economics

Marking the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations—the book that launched modern economics.

About

What causes the wealth of nations?

In 1776, Adam Smith launched modern economics and changed the world by asking this seemingly simple question. Today, 250 years later, the University of Chicago Becker Friedman Institute for Economics marks this anniversary with Wealth250 — a yearlong examination of the foundation, frontier, and future of economics. Through essays, podcasts, videos, and public conversations, UChicago scholars and global leaders are coming together to explore what we have learned across this quarter millennium and identify what questions lie ahead.

Events, essays, and more are rolling out throughout 2026. Subscribe to stay connected.

Public Discussions

Upcoming Event · MAY 5, 2026

BFI Student Lunch Series – Making the Invisible Hand Visible: How Managers Shape Careers Inside Firms

Featuring Virginia Minni, Assistant Professor of Economics and Asness Junior Faculty Fellow at University of Chicago Booth School of Business
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Upcoming Event · APR 15, 2026

Wealth250 Public Event featuring Randy Kroszner

The event is part of BFI’s year-long series celebrating the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations and will focus on the Federal Reserve, inflation, and monetary policy
Register
Past Event · MAR 5, 2026

BFI Student Event: Celebrating the Foundations of Economics

With Pie Day right around the corner, BFI is celebrating with pizza, prizes, and a nod to the foundation of economics. Join fellow students for a casual lunch celebrating the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations.
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Past Event · FEB 12, 2026

BFI Student Lunch Series – Tariff Wars! What are the Rates? Who Pays? What’s Next?

Featuring Brent Neiman, Edward Eagle Brown Professor of Economics and William Ladany Faculty Scholar, Chicago Booth; Co-Director of BFI's International Economics and Economic Geography Initiative
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Past Event · NOV 4, 2025

BFI Student Event – The Transformation of Capitalism

Featuring Yueran Ma, Carhart Family Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School Business, and Co-Director of the Fama-Miller Center for Research in Finance
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Partner Insights

Wealth250-related research, commentary, and analysis from University of Chicago partner institutions and publications.
From Capitalisn't Podcast · Stigler Center & Chicago Booth Review · MAR 26, 2026

Is Everyone Getting Adam Smith Wrong? - ft. Glory Liu

Most people associate Adam Smith with free markets and “the invisible hand”. But does this conventional narrative purposefully ignore Smith’s deep suspicions about monopolies and power?
Watch
From Capitalisn't Podcast · Stigler Center & Chicago Booth Review · FEB 26, 2026

Adam Smith In The Age of The “Epstein Class” (with MP Jesse Norman)

As we approach the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith's “Wealth of Nations" this March, his theories on competition and the invisible hand remain part of the bedrock of modern economics. But, have we undermined those theories in our economy today?
Watch
From the Chicago Booth Review · By Yueran Ma · FEB 24, 2026

What Adam Smith Didn’t Foresee About Capitalism

Market economies have evolved in ways that both confirm and challenge his ideas.
Read

Related Research

Nearly 250 years later, BFI researchers continue to ask the same questions Smith raised, now with new data, new methods, and new economies to study. The highlighted research below is organized around the topics Smith raised across The Wealth of Nations, showing how his core inquiries remain alive in contemporary economic research.
Wealth250 and Chicago Economics