Economist, former presidential adviser Laffer to give MTSU guest lecture March 26

By Raegan Fought

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The public is invited to visit Middle Tennessee State University on March 26 for a Distinguished Lecture Series event featuring well-known economist and presidential adviser Arthur Laffer.

Laffer, a former economic policy adviser to Presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, will be speaking on “America’s Economic Outlook in the Trump Era,” beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, in Room S102 in the Business and Aerospace Building, 1642 MTSU Blvd. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Dr. Art Laffer, American economist — Dr. Art Laffer

Laffer, 84, is a leading economist known for his supply-side economics theories as well as the Laffer curve, which illustrates the relationship between tax rates and revenue. He is also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Trump in 2019.

The focus of this lecture is to discuss the economic landscape shaped by policies from the Trump administration and their future implications.

Dr. Stuart Fowler, Economics and Finance professor, interim chair — Dr. Stuart Fowler

“His talk will likely touch on topics such as tax policy, economic growth, inflation, employment trends, and the long-term fiscal implications of decisions made during that period,” explained Stuart Fowler, MTSU associate professor and chair of the Department of Economics and Finance.

Students, faculty, business professionals and anyone interested in economics, public policy or finance are encouraged to attend.

“Given Dr. Laffer’s influential role in shaping economic policy, his insights will be valuable to those looking to understand broader economic trends and their implications,” said Fowler.

Fowler stressed the importance of the topic given the ongoing debates about tax policies, inflation and economic recovery strategies.

Dr. Daniel Smith, director of the Political Economy Research Institute; associate professor in Economics and Finance — Dr. Daniel Smith

“Economic policy decisions from any administration have lasting effects on businesses, investments, and everyday citizens. By reflecting on the Trump-era policies, Dr. Laffer will help attendees understand their economic consequences and how they continue to shape the financial landscape,” Fowler added.

Daniel J. Smith, director of MTSU’s Political Economy Research Institute and professor of economics and finance, detailed the range of interests Laffer’s economic bipartisan talk will appeal to.

“Dr. Laffer’s recent public commentary reflects a mixed assessment of President Trump’s economic policies, including concern about the economic consequences of tariffs, so attendees should expect a frank discussion of the pros and cons of the state of the economy and current public policy,” said Smith.

This event is hosted by Jennings A. Jones College of Business, Department of Economics and Finance, and the Political Economy Research Institute and is sponsored by Young America’s Foundation student group.

Off-campus visitors attending the event will need a $2 temporary parking pass. More details on purchasing a pass online, in person or pay by plate as well as a parking map can be found on MTSU’s website https://parking.mtsu.edu/.

— Raegan Faught is a senior journalism major in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media. Contact her at news@mtsu.edu.