The Competitive Enterprise Institute traveled to Edinburgh – to toast our 40th anniversary and the tercentenary of Scottish philosopher and father of economics, Adam Smith – for our eighth annual policy summit. We experienced the “Athens of the North” and soaked in Scottish history and culture on the Royal Mile at Virgin Hotels’ first international property.

Throughout the weekend, CEI experts and guest speakers shared their policy priorities for the coming year in Greyfriars Hall, a former medieval church now part of Virgin Hotels. They discussed Adam Smith’s legacy, structural reforms at the Federal Trade Commission, post-pandemic health care policy, challenges and opportunities with spectrum allocation, the lack of economic consequence of the presidency, electric grid reliability, prospects for nuclear power, and critical permitting reforms at the state, national, and international levels of government.

We kicked off the weekend in Old Town Edinburgh with a welcome dinner in Greyfriars Hall. British entrepreneur and author Luke Johnson spoke about the importance of building a culture of invention. On Friday evening, we went to the historic Grassmarket neighborhood for a private dinner in The Caves. This former underground tavern was where Adam Smith hosted his weekly Oyster Club meetings with brilliant thinkers of the day, such as David Hume and Benjamin Franklin. On Saturday, we ventured to the portside district Leith to board the Royal Yacht Britannia. Guests received an exclusive behind-the-ropes tour of the State Apartments. Lord Hannan of Kingsclere delivered the closing address on expanding free trade in the State Dining Room, where Queen Elizabeth II hosted world leaders and celebrities. 

Speakers:

James Broughel, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Michael Cannon, Cato Institute

Daniel Hannan, UK Board of Trade

Melissa Holyoak, Federal Trade Commission

Luke Johnson, Risk Capital Partners

Paige Lambermont, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Kent Lassman, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Robert McDowell, Cooley

Jessica Melugin, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Tim Muris, George Mason University

Iain Murray, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Brian Rankin, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Chris Stirewalt, American Enterprise Institute

Kevin D. Williamson, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Ryan Young, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Joel Zinberg, Competitive Enterprise Institute

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