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.
Check back soon for Fall 2026 Reading Group applications.
Fall Reading Groups
Global Trade: Myths, Realities, and Controversies
Date and time TBD
Location: 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.