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

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

From Capitalisn't by University of Chicago Podcast Network

March 26, 2026 · 31 min · Season 2 · Episode 157

About this episode

Georgetown assistant professor Glory Liu discusses the misconceptions surrounding Adam Smith's views on monopolies and power.

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? Georgetown assistant professor Glory Liu argues this narrow interpretation is actually a deliberate historical reconstruction.

People in this episode

Guest: Glory Liu

Topics covered

  • Adam Smith
  • free markets
  • monopolies
  • historical interpretation
  • power dynamics

Keywords

  • Adam Smith
  • free markets
  • monopolies
  • historical reconstruction
  • Georgetown

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Adam Smith

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