Adam Smith and the Future of Scotland

"Smith believed in open, frank and tolerant conversations and that people should be able to share ideas without it impacting negatively on them." Professor Craig Smith’s words set the tone well for the ‘Adam Smith and The Future of Scotland’. The event brought policymakers, business leaders and academics together at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood to discuss the future of ethical business, professions and the economy.

As well as commemorating 300 years of Adam Smith, the event also marked the 170th year of ICAS, the world’s oldest professional accounting body.

The event was led and chaired by Kathleen Riach, Professor in Organisational Studies at the UofG’s Adam Smith Business School.

During 2023, the University of Glasgow held global activities to celebrate Smith’s tercentenary and learn more about his life. This event aimed to continue the legacy of Scotland’s most famous thinker.

Led and chaired by Kathleen Riach, Professor in Organisational Studies at the UofG’s Adam Smith Business School, the event had Delegates enjoy interactive sessions on some of Smith’s key ideas around professions, ethics, innovation and the economy - including games to find out how well people knew him.

In addition, there was a panel session with Peter Reekie, of the Scottish Futures Trust, and ICAS’s James Barbour. They discussed the implications of Smith’s work in commercial markets, state, regulation, development and equality. This was supported by Michelle Thomson MSP for Falkirk East, and chaired by Professor Graeme Roy, Assistant Vice Principal at the University of Glasgow and Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission.

Following this was a fireside chat with Prof Kathleen Riach, Theresa Shearer, CEO of Enable highlighted why equality is so important in the workplace, and why everyone should be supported to do their job without prejudice or maltreatment. “Empathy is one of the few traits that AI will not take over in our lifetime” she commented. Topics discussed also included the importance of learning in entrepreneurship, teaching critical thinking in schools and interdisciplinary approaches.