V. ECAEF/CEPROM Conference, Monaco 2021

9 December 2021

ecaef ceprom conference 2021 — “People who intend only to seek their own benefit are led by an invisible hand to serve a *public interest* which was no part of their intention. I say that there is a reverse invisible hand: People who intend to serve only the *public interest* are led by an invisible hand to serve private interests, which was no part of their intention”. **Milton Friedman** (1912-2006)

Principality of Monaco, 9 December 2021:

V. International
CEPROM/ECAEF Conference

(An Academic Conference in honor of Jacques Rueff, 1896-1978)

by invitation only

Topic:

“Is the Public Interest
really in the public’s interest?”

– with some Allusions to the Political Accountability –

Locally Organized and Hosted by
CEPROM
Center of Economic Research for Monaco (MC)

Conception, Arrangement and Academic Supervision:
ECAEF
European Center of Austrian Economics Foundation (LI)

Musee Oceanographique de Monaco
Principality of Monaco

Academic Director: Kurt R. Leube (krleube@gmail.com)
Admin. Director, CEPROM: Emmanuel Falco (terrisse@mci.mc and alexia@mci.mc)
Media Contacts: nsaussier@palais.mc
Conference Date: December 9, 2021
Location: Musee Oceanographique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco
Conference Languages: English/French; simultaneous translation.

Conference Program

9 December, 2021, 09:00-9:30: Registration
09:30-9:45: Welcome: H.S.H. Prince Albert II and H.S.H. Prince Michael of Liechtenstein

Introduction by Kurt R. Leube

Session I (9:45-12:00)
On the Public Interest Concept: As a Method to judge Government Actions and Political Accountability.
09:45-10:00, Chair: Carlos A. Gebauer (D)
10:00-10:30: Free Markets, Economic Governance and the Public Interest – Michael Wohlgemuth (D)
10:30-10:45: Discussion
10:45-11:15: Coffee break for all participants
11:15-11:45: A false Dichotomy? The Public Interest and Inequality – Axel Kaiser (CL)
11:45-12:00: Discussion

12:00-13:45: Break

Session II (13:45-15:30)
On the Public Interest Concept: On its Meaning as an Economic Policy Function
13:45-14:00, Chair: Peter A. Fischer (CH)
14:00-14:30: Black Board Economics: The Public Interest and the Road to Leviathan – Terry L. Anderson (USA)
14:30-14:45: Discussion
14:45-15:15: In the Name of the Public Interest? Excessive Government Debt and ‘Unconventional’ Monetary Policies – Lars P. Feld (D)
15: 15:15-15:30: Discussion
15:30-16:00: Coffee break for all participants

Session III (16:00-18:00)
On the Public Interest Concept: As a Guide to and a Fact-Check on Public Policy Measures
16:00-16:15, Chair: Peter A. Fischer (CH)
16:15-16:45: Superstitions, Conjectures and Refutations: Inflation, High Debt and the Public Interest – Veronique de Rugy (USA/F)
16:45-17:00: Discussion
17:00-17:30: On the Zeitgeist, Political Accountability and the Public Interest – Johan Norberg (S)
17:30-17:45: Discussion
17:45-18:00: Closing Remarks – Kurt R. Leube (A/USA)
18:00: End of Conference

Dinner Speech by Peter A. Fischer