Upcoming program focuses on pros, cons of monopolies

History teaches us that free market economies have lifted people out of poverty around the world. One of their earmarks is competition; yet monopolies persist and co-exist with free markets in various ways.
Using a case study of John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil, Lawrence W. Reed will illuminate the pros and cons of monopolies and free markets and draw conclusions for today during a Nov. 3 presentation facilitated by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy at Northwood University.
Reed, an economist and historian, is president emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education in Atlanta, Georgia. Before retiring to the emeritus role in 2019, he served as the organization’s president for 11 years, as the founding president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy for 21 years and as an economics professor at Northwood University for seven years.
He has written seven books and over 2,000 articles and newspaper columns. He has lectured in all 50 states and nearly 90 countries. He holds two honorary doctorates (in Public Administration and in Laws) from Central Michigan University and Northwood University. In 2022, the President of Poland announced that he will soon bestow upon Reed the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic Poland, the highest honor that Poland gives to a foreigner.
The Nov. 3 event is sponsored by the Charles M. Bauervic Foundation and presented in conjunction with Northwood University. Information about this year’s Bauervic Essay Competition for college and high school students will be shared during the program, which will be held following a 6 p.m. reception.
The program, which will include a Q&A, will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Griswold Communications Center on Northwood’s Midland campus, 4000 Whiting Dr., Midland. There will be an option to tune in online.
This event is free, but please RSVP by 5 p.m. Oct. 27. You can register online here