The community is invited to experience the Free Market Road Show, a prestigious international lecture series that travels to the world’s largest cities. On April 14, it will bring global economic experts to Midland, Michigan, for a morning of engaging discussions on free-market principles and policy reforms at Northwood University.
The Free Market Road Show, a project of the Austrian Economics Center, is a traveling economic conference that is considered a prominent event within the sphere of free market advocacy. The April 14 lineup in Midland will feature keynote speaker Barbara Kolm, director of the Austrian Economics Center, president of the Hayek Institute, and one of the foremost thought leaders in Austrian economics.
“Hosting the Free Market Road Show is a tremendous honor for Northwood University and a testament to our commitment to fostering rigorous economic thought leadership,” stated Academic Dean Dr. Stacey Tetloff. “This event provides a meaningful opportunity for our students, faculty, and the wider community to engage directly with great minds in free-market economics.”
The April 14 event will feature the following presentations:
- Trump’s Impact on EU Policies: The Inside Scoop — Barbara Kolm, Austrian Economics Center and Hayek Institute
- How the States Can Assist in Implementing Washington’s Free Market Reforms — Michael Van Beek and Jarrett Skorup, Mackinac Center for Public Policy
- What Reforms Entrepreneurs Want from Today’s Congress and the White House — Don Gottwald, Northwood alumnus and principal donor behind Northwood University’s complimentary Philosophy of Free Enterprise online course
- The Trump Factor: Adopting Hayek’s Ideas, Applying Milei’s Policies — Dr. Alexander Tokarev, associate professor of economics and philosophy, and academic lead for the 2025-26 Northwood University Freedom Seminar
“The Free Market Road Show connects students and the community to influential thinkers about pressing economic issues,” stated Dr. Tokarev. “The insights shared by these experts will provide a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within today’s global economy.”
The event is free and open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the public. It will run from 9 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. April 14 in Griswold Lecture Hall, on Northwood’s campus in Midland, Michigan.
The Free Market Road Show stop in Midland serves as a special lead-up to the 2025-26 Northwood University Freedom Seminar, which will explore the theme “The Road to Freedom,” inspired by Friedrich Hayek’s seminal work The Road to Serfdom. Throughout the Fall 2025 semester, Northwood’s Freedom Seminar will feature distinguished speakers addressing topics related to economic liberty and limited government. The seminar, a long-standing Northwood tradition, also serves as an honors course, with enrollment opening later this spring.
The Free Market Road Show stop in Midland is possible thanks to the generous support of the McNair Center for Free Enterprise at Northwood University and Dr. Timothy G. Nash, director of the McNair Center and Northwood University vice president emeritus.
There is no cost to attend the April 14 Free Market Road Show, though attendees are asked to register in advance here. The event will be livestreamed, for those who are unable to attend in person.
The livestream link, as well as more information about the April 14 Free Market Road Show stop in Midland, will be posted in advance of the event on the Northwood University Freedom Seminar webpage (www.northwood.edu/freedom-seminar).
