Learning from Failed Experiments: Three Examples from Experimental Economics

Vernon Smith (Chapman University), Dr. Gerald Gaus (University of Arizona)

On the evening of Wednesday, 5 October from 6-8pm, the Monash Philosophy department in collaboration with Monash Business School is hosting an evening with Nobel Laureate economist Vernon Smith at the State Library of Victoria. Vernon Smith was awarded the Nobel prize in 2002 for his groundbreaking work in experimental economics and he is currently the George L. Argyros Endowed Chair of Economics at Chapman University in the United States.

His talk is entitled “Learning from Failed Experiments: Three Examples from Experimental Economics”. The event will be moderated by the world-renowned political philosopher Gerald Gaus, the James E. Rogers Professor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona. Both of these thinkers share a deep interest in understanding how the complex interactions that characterize modern society are structured and governed by evolved norms and institutions, especially the importance of what Vernon Smith calls “ecological rationality.” Gaus will moderate and begin the discussion by addressing several questions directly to Prof. Smith, before opening up the discussion to questions from the floor.

This event presents a rare opportunity to see two great minds on the cutting-edge of social and political theory engage one another and the audience on issues at the intersection of philosophy, politics, and economics.