Freedom Seminar to explore ‘America at the Crossroads: Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Generation’

Set for April 7-10 at Northwood University

Northwood University will hold its 44th Freedom Seminar, “America at the Crossroads: Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Generation,” on April 7-10, 2022.

The Northwood University Freedom Seminar is an annual three-and-a-half day symposium on the free-enterprise system led by distinguished academic and business leaders. The purpose of the Freedom Seminar is to investigate current business and economic topics of utmost interest to the academic and business communities.

“Compared to previous generations, surveys show that young Americans are more negative about the current state of the world,” stated Dale Matcheck, who chairs Northwood’s Economics Department and co-organizes the Freedom Seminar. “This is no surprise, having come of age during the War on Terror, Great Recession, COVID pandemic, Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, and other historically significant events that have shaped their world view. On the other hand, surveys also show that today’s young people are more optimistic than previous generations about their future and confident in their ability to make a positive impact on the world.”

Matcheck noted Northwood University shares their optimism, but we know it will not be easy.

“In this year’s freedom seminar, we will examine some of the key challenges and opportunities facing their generation,” he added. “The sessions will be organized around three key areas of concern to young people: the economy, the environment and society.”

This year’s programming includes:

• Keynote by Stephen Moore, FreedomWorks, and Jonathan Williams, American Legislative Exchange Council

• Business, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Panel Discussion, featuring Andre Argenton, Dow; Chris Chandler, Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational; and Alison Orvash, FILL LLC.

• “Leave Me Alone and I’ll Make You Rich: How the Bourgeois Deal Enriched the World,” by Art Carden, Samford University  

• “The Inveterate Problems of Political Economy: From Plato to Gen Z,” by Daniel J. Smith, Middle Tennessee State University

• “The Post-Covid Economy,” by Timothy G. Nash, director of the McNair Center for the Advancement of Free-Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Northwood University

• “You Can’t Print Prosperity,” by Harry Veryser, University of Detroit-Mercy

• “A Policy Agenda for Gen Z,” by Michael Tanner, CATO Institute

• “Seven Principles of Free Market Environmentalism,” by Jason Hayes, Mackinac Center for Public Policy

• “How Entrepreneurs Promote Sustainability,” a panel of Northwood faculty

• “Seven Principles for Sound Energy Policy,” by Jason Hayes, Mackinac Center for Public Policy

• “Removing Obstacles to Upward Mobility,” a panel of Northwood faculty

• “Transportation Transformation,” by Derek Kaufman, Schwartz Advisors, LLC

• “Coping with Cancel Culture,” a virtual presentation by the Leadership Institute

• “Parents, Children and Education,” a panel of Northwood Faculty

• “The Future of America,” featuring George Leef of the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal

The 2022 Freedom Seminar is made possible by the generous support of the McNair Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Northwood University.

For more information about this year’s Freedom Seminar, including how to register, visit the Freedom Seminar webpage or email .