Libertarianism.org

Jan 9, 2007

On the Wealth of Nations

featuring David Boaz and P. J. O'Rourke

A Cato Institute Book Forum featuring the author, P. J. O’Rourke, America’s leading political humorist and Cato H. L. Mencken research fellow. Moderated by David Boaz.

P.J. O’Rourke will give a modern-day spin on The Wealth of Nations and Adam Smith’s revolutionary theories on liberty: pursuit of self-interest, division of labor, and freedom of trade. Employing Smith’s insights, P. J. will tackle such present day topics as outsourcing, blogs, central banks, and lobbyists, to name just a few. As P. J. puts it, he read The Wealth of Nations “so you don’t have to.”

David Boaz

David Boaz is the executive vice president of the Cato Institute and has played a key role in both the Institute’s development and the growth of the American libertarian movement at large. Prior to joining Cato in 1981, he served as editor of New Guard magazine and executive director of the Council for a Competitive Economy.

In 1993, Boaz co-edited Market Liberalism: A Paradigm for the 21st Century with Edward H. Crane, president of the Cato Institute. His own work, Libertarianism: A Primer was published in 1997. That same year, The Libertarian Reader, which Boaz edited, was published. Boaz co-edited the 2003 Cato Handbook for Congress and the 2005 Cato Handbook on Policy. His book, The Politics of Freedom: Taking on The Left, The Right and Threats to Our Liberties, came out in 2008.

Boaz often appears in the media to discuss such issues as education choice, the growth of government, the ownership society, drug legalization, and the rise of libertarianism.