Enlightenment Evening: False Dawn - Whither the New Deal?

​Join us for another Enlightenment Evening assessing the Great Depression, the New Deal and current economic policy with Professor George Selgin on Thursday, 2nd October.

​President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, his response to the 1929 financial crash and ensuing Great Depression, is lauded by many as a total victory of government economic policy. Massively expanding the instruments of the state, he created new government bodies and increased public spending.

​But was the New Deal as purely medicinal as consensus makes it out to be? Join us to discuss the ugly truth behind the ensuing unemployment and business failure that followed, and see what lessons we can learn from big-state interventions into economic crises.

​Joining us is Professor George Selgin, Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Georgia. A foremost figure in the free-market movement, he is Senior Fellow and Director Emeritus of the Cato Institute's Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, and has previously taught at George Mason University, the University of Hong Kong, and West Virginia University. He has authored many books and articles on monetary history, macroeconomic theory, and the history of monetary thought.

​​​​​Doors open at 6pm for a sharp 6.30pm start. There will be a 15-minute address by Professor Selgin followed by 10–15 minutes of audience Q&A.

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​​​​​Housekeeping:

​​​​​​​​​​​Date: Thursday, 2nd October 2025

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Time: Doors open 6pm sharp (early birds will arrive sans wyrm!)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Venue: 23 Great Smith Street, Westminster. SW1P 3DJ

​​​​​​​​​​​​Refreshments provided 🍷