21 - 27 June 2027 - Broad Chalke, Salisbury

Festival

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Enjoy Chalke year-round by joining the Chalke History Club, with access to past talks, exclusive online events and festival benefits. (2026 talks added in the autumn)

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Guildhall

Included

16:00 - 17:00
Thu, 25 June
58. Trade, Trump and the Future of Capitalism
Guildhall

Has free trade run its course, or are we simply misunderstanding it? As global markets shift and political tensions rise, what would Adam Smith make of the world today? Join acclaimed biographer Jesse Norman MP and Andy Haldane, former Chief Economist at the Bank of England, for a timely and thought-provoking exploration of Smith’s ideas in the context of modern challenges; from the impact of Trump-era economics to the rise of AI, state capitalism and growing inequality. Far from the simplistic label of ‘father of capitalism,’ Smith emerges as a subtle and wide-ranging thinker, deeply concerned with ethics, society and human behaviour. Norman and Haldane revisit Smith’s vision to ask urgent questions about the future of markets, the balance between state and society, and whether his thinking might still hold the key to navigating an uncertain economic age.

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The Festival will return in 2027! 21st - 27th June, 2027. Keep up to date on all the festival news, including the latest line up announcements.

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