Tercentenary Symposium on Adam Smith, 12/2023, at Van Lang University

To commemorate the 300th anniversary of Adam Smith, a pioneer political economist and philosopher with immense impact on the human history in modern time, Van Lang University is going to hold the symposium “Tercentenary Symposium on Adam Smith: The Enduring Thoughts of ‘the Father of Economics’” on December 16th, 2023, with the participation of many prestigious professor, scholars, and experts.

Adam Smith, a luminary of the Enlightenment era, stands as an intellectual giant whose ideas have reverberated through the centuries, shaping the very foundations of modern economics, politics, and society. His seminal work, “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”, published in 1776, remains a touchstone for scholars and policymakers worldwide, and his profound insights into the principles of free markets, division of labour, and “the invisible hand” continue to influence our global economic discourse.

Smith’s thoughts on the pursuit of self-interest, the importance of competition, and the roles of markets and governments in fostering prosperity are as pertinent today as they were in his era. Human society has evolved substantially since Smith’s time with the market mechanism becoming a common of the contemporary world. However, the nature of market institutions in some parts of the world, e.g. East Asia, may differ considerably from those of the origin of capitalism – western countries, which reflects the essence of our world’s heterogeneity. In addition, the emerging characteristics such as rapid technological advancement, intense globalization, and multiple socio-economic complexities may add more nuance to the landscape. The reflection on Smith’s thoughts may shed some light on our re-perception about the contemporary socio-economic systems.

The symposium brings together prestigious speakers who are renowed professors, scholars, and experts in Vietnam and abroad: Prof. Edmund Malesky, Prof. Markus Taussig, Prof. Tran Le Anh, Dr. Tran Quoc Hung, Prof. Le Van Cuong, Prof. Tran Van Tho, Prof. Vu Minh Khuong, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Xanh, Prof. Nguyen Duc Thanh, Prof. Tran Dinh Thien, Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, Dr. Le Dang Doanh, Ms. Pham Chi Lan, Dr. Tran Du Lich, Dr. Nguyen Tu Anh.

For further information, please kindly visit our webpage at https://adamsmith.vlu.edu.vn/index_en.html and contact the Organization Committee at adamsmith@vlu.edu.vn.

Hoai Anh