Human Flourishing, the Economy,
and Monetary Reform, Part I
November 3, 2010
Princeton, New Jersey

Sponsored by
The James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions
and
The Program in Contemporary European Politics and Society
Princeton University

Organized by
The Program in Ethics, Culture, and Economic Development
of the
Witherspoon Institute

Statement of the Project
With the expansion of the government's economic responsibilities over the past three years, there has been growing public concern about the economic role of the state and the level of sovereign and private debt. With this in mind, the Witherspoon Institute of Princeton, New Jersey assembled a group of distinguished scholars--economists, philosophers, legal scholars, journalists and historians--to discuss a principled approach to these concerns that is grounded in a robust conception of the common good and human flourishing, with a particular focus on the reform of monetary policy. This consultation was held in two parts taking place on November 3 and December 15, 2010.

Moderator:
Luis E. Tellez - President, The Witherspoon Institute

Presenters:
Robert P. George, Princeton University
Samuel Gregg, The Acton Institute
Michael Bordo, Rutgers University
Benn Steil, Council on Foreign Relations

Discussants:
Jeffrey Bell - Policy Director, American Principles Project
Michael Bordo - Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for Monetary and Financial History, Rutgers University
Alejandro A. Chafuen - President and CEO, Atlas Economic Research Foundation
Sean Fieler - Managing Partner, Equinox Partners
Robert P. George - McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University
Samuel Gregg - Director of Research, The Acton Institute
William Mumma - CEO, Mitsubishi Securities USA
Benn Steil - Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics, Council on Foreign Relations
James Turk - Director, GoldMoney Foundation

Consultation Schedule
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
Carl A Fields Center

Session 1: Human Flourishing, Government, and the Economy
9:00 a.m. The State, Subsidiarity, and the Common Good
Robert P. George, McCormack Professor of Jurisprudence
Princeton University

10:45 a.m. Coffee Break

11:00 a.m. The State, the Economy, and Money
Samuel Gregg, Director of Research
The Acton Institute

12:30 p.m. Lunch Break

Session 2: Monetary Reform
2:00 p.m. Monetary Reform
Michael Bordo, Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for Monetary and Financial History
Rutgers University

3:00 p.m. Asset-backed Money and Private Money
Benn Steil, Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics
Council on Foreign Relations

4:15 p.m. Coffee Break

Session 3: What to do next?

4:30 p.m. Moderated Discussion
Participants will propose steps to continue to develop these lines of argumentation and public education.

5:30 p.m. Consultation Conclusion