Mancur Olson Reading Group Scholars
The Mancur Olson Scholars undergraduate program brings together diverse students to study an important topic of our time. By sharing their own views and hearing the perspectives of their peers, scholars experience the value of free expression and develop scholarly skills.
Reading groups enhance the university experience by helping students explore important ideas, engage in civil discussion, and develop new skills.
Scholars are invited to think critically and engage in robust discussion of ideas. Civil disagreement with one another and the text is not only accepted, but actively encouraged. All students who complete the reading group receive a scholarship. In addition, students are given opportunities to network with guest speakers and attend exclusive events.
Applications for Spring Reading Groups coming soon
Fall Reading Groups
Global Trade: Myths, Realities, and Controversies
Fridays 1-2 pm, Richard H. Barry Hall, Downtown Campus
Led by Dr. Alfredo Roa-Henriquez
Free trade is often praised as a driver of economic growth, innovation, and consumer choice. Supporters argue that open markets reduce costs, increase efficiency, and foster global cooperation. Trade agreements are seen as tools to strengthen international ties and promote development through competition and specialization. Supporters maintain that restricting trade leads to inefficiency, stagnation, and isolation. They believe that global integration, despite its flaws, remains the best path toward shared prosperity.
Critics, however, view free trade as a source of economic instability and inequality. They point to job losses, factory closures, and weakened national industries. Trade deals are accused of favoring corporations, undermining environmental standards, and limiting national sovereignty. Some critics also argue that wealthy nations built their economies through protectionism and government support, not free-market policies. They claim that imposing liberalization on developing countries ignores historical realities and creates dependency rather than growth.
In this reading group, we will discuss these controversies as well as myths and realities surrounding trade.
Why Societies Flourish: Markets, Socialism, and the Debate Over Prosperity
Tuesdays 5-6 pm, Richard H. Barry Hall, Downtown Campus
Led by Baishali Rahman
Why do some societies thrive, innovate, and enjoy freedom, while others face poverty, stagnation, or political turmoil? Over the past two centuries, living standards have improved all over the world. However, people still debate about why this change happened. Did economic freedom and markets drive this progress? Or do markets create inequality and social problems that require alternative systems of organization?
This reading group will explore one of the most important questions in economics and political philosophy: what kind of institutions allow societies to flourish? Students will read a series of reflecting, engaging, and easy-to-understand texts that will help them consider different views on capitalism and socialism, and on how economic freedom affects prosperity and human wellbeing.
Expertise and Public Trust
Wednesdays 4-5 pm, Richard H. Barry Hall, Downtown Campus
Led by Nicholas Orlando
Why do experts (e.g. scientists, economists, public health officials) sometimes struggle to earn the trust of the very people they aim to serve? In an age of widespread information, public skepticism toward expertise has grown, even as societies face increasingly complex challenges. Some argue that this distrust stems from overconfidence and communication failures among experts themselves. Others believe that political and cultural forces have deliberately undermined expertise to mobilize public opinion and fuel populist movements.
This reading group will explore the role that expertise should play in society, and how trust between experts and the public can be rebuilt. Students will read books with contrasting perspectives on the causes and consequences of declining trust in experts, serving as a basis for discussion and encouraging students to reflect on the relationship between knowledge, authority, and democracy in the world.
Spring Reading Groups
Immigration: Who Wins? Evidence, Incentives, and Policy Choices
Thursdays 1-2 p.m., Memorial Union, Main Campus
Led by Brett Bantle
Immigration is one of the most important and debated issues facing the United States today. Supporters point to its role in economic growth, innovation, and addressing workforce shortages, while critics raise concerns about wages, job competition, public resources, and social cohesion. But who actually benefits from immigration, who bears the costs, and how should these tradeoffs influence immigration policy?
This reading group will explore immigration through one central question: Who wins? Students will read two engaging books that offer different perspectives on immigration and its economic and social consequences. Through thoughtful discussions and respectful debate, students will examine how immigration affects workers, businesses, communities, and institutions. The group will encourage students to consider competing arguments, evaluate evidence, and think critically about how immigration policies can balance economic opportunity, prosperity, and fairness.
Money and Happiness: Should We Save for Tomorrow or Live More Today?
Fridays 1-2 p.m., Richard H. Barry Hall, Downtown Campus
Led by Ahmad Al Asady
What is the purpose of making money? Is it to accumulate wealth and secure our future, or to enjoy the opportunities and experiences that money makes possible? Saving provides financial security and independence, but focusing too heavily on the future may come at the expense of enjoying life today. On the other hand, prioritizing immediate experiences can jeopardize our financial well-being later in life.
Through Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money and Bill Perkins's Die With Zero, students will explore different perspectives on wealth, happiness, and the choices we make with our money. Weekly discussions will challenge students to question conventional assumptions about financial success, consider the trade-offs between saving and spending, and reflect on how money can contribute to a fulfilling life. Rather than prescribing a particular approach, the group will encourage students to evaluate competing arguments and develop their own understanding of what it means to use money wisely.
AI and Human Flourishing: Technology, Progress, and the Future of Humanity
Tuesdays 5:30-7 p.m., Richard H. Barry Hall, Downtown Campus
Led by Oudom Hean
Will artificial intelligence usher in an unprecedented era of prosperity and human flourishing, or will it create new challenges for employment, inequality, and human freedom? Throughout history, technological innovations have transformed economies, improved living standards, and reshaped societies. Yet the rapid advancement of AI raises important questions about the future of work, economic opportunity, human creativity, and the role of technology in our lives.
This reading group will explore how artificial intelligence could shape human progress and flourishing. Students will examine both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI. Through engaging stories and discussions, participants will consider how AI might transform industries, influence economic growth, reshape social institutions, and ultimately affect human well-being. The group will encourage open-minded discussions about how society can harness technological innovation to create a more prosperous and flourishing future.