Business and economics
Economic History of Poverty and Wealth
This is the most important story in economic history which is neglected in the standard
history curriculum. Why did the world stay so poor for most of history and why have
some countries break away from poverty only in the last two centuries?
Jonathan Andreas
Energy economics
Why are gasoline prices so volatile? What will happen to energy prices in the future?
What is the impact of energy markets upon the economy?
Jonathan Andreas
The Ethics of Economics
How academics accidentally developed a neoliberal moral philosophy that has subtlety
reshaped government and business practices over the past half century.
Jonathan Andreas
Chocolate Pioneers: Business practices from the early years of the Cadbury and Hershey
chocolate companies
The British chocolate firm Cadbury was founded by Quakers. Hershey was founded by
Milton Hershey who had strong Mennonite connections. This lecture explores the business
and ethical practices of both firms in their founding years near the end of the 19th
century and how these may have been influenced by their religious beliefs.
George Lehman
Understanding the rapid growth of the Chinese economy
Many discussions of the Chinese economy tend to focus on how the U.S. is being impacted
by China's growth. This lecture focuses more on understanding how China is being impacted
by its own rapid growth. The material for the lecture is grounded in a Bluffton MBA
program study trip to China.
George Lehman
Creating Honor
Honor is a crucial magnetism that both binds people together and ironically sets
groups apart. Although some people deserve more honor than others, everyone lives
by some sort of honor code whether they realize it or not. Everyone should think more
consciously about what is honorable and how habits and institutions help people be
more honorable.
Jonathan Andreas
For more information or to schedule a speaker, contact the public relations office at news@bluffton.edu at least two weeks prior to your meeting.