Why Bastiat?

AIER has added the Bastiat Society Program to expand the reach of AIER’s mission. Through the program’s well-established chapter network of business leaders, AIER will be coordinating over 140 chapter events in 2018; panel discussions, lectures, conferences and debates that will focus on free markets and liberty.

Brad DeVos

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October 17, 2017

AIER has added the Bastiat Society Program to expand the reach of AIER’s mission. Through the program’s well-established chapter network of business leaders, AIER will be coordinating over 140 chapter events in 2018; panel discussions, lectures, conferences and debates that will focus on free markets and liberty.

Like AIER’s founder Colonel E.C. Harwood, Claude Frederic Bastiat (d.1850) was largely self-taught, a man who became consumed with learning more about economics, trade, history, and philosophy. He became a prolific writer whose words ring true today.

The Bastiat Society Program advances the ideals of free markets and individual liberty and has grown to nearly 30 chapters in over a dozen countries. Thousands of regular people meet to discuss the principles and history of liberty. Attendees and members connect with each other, become mentors, build meaningful relationships and bring our ideas to their friends and colleagues. The Bastiat Society Program provides a space where the average business person can gain an understanding of classical liberal economics, learn what it means to be a principled business person, and connect with an international network of free market advocates.

AIER’s mission is to provide individuals the tools they need to promote freedom and defend markets. As Bastiat famously stated, “The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is, not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended.” We hope our efforts will honor Frederic Bastiat’s legacy, and that we will defend liberty’s moral high ground together.

AIER readers in the following cities are welcome to join our upcoming events:

Indianapolis, IN Wednesday, October 25^th, 6pm

An Evening of Conversation: Frédéric Bastiat’s “The Law” with David Hart

Location: Liberty Fund, Inc., 11301 North Meridian Street

Nashville, TN Thursday, October 26^th, 6pm

“Free Market Capitalism on the March Worldwide” with Thomas Landstreet

Location: ADS Security Nashville, 3001 Armory Drive, #100

Charleston, SC Wednesday, November 1^st, 6pm

“Adventures at the Infrastructure Bank – Dum Spiro Spero?” with Vince Graham

Location: Virginia’s on King, 412 King Street

Wichita, KS Thursday, November 2^nd, 6pm

“Bier & Bastiat” with Matt Kibbe

Location: Alltite, Inc., 1600 E Murdock Street

For additional event information, click here. https://www.aier.org/events

To learn more about Frederic Bastiat, click here. http://www.bastiatsociety.org/bastiat.php

Brad DeVos

Brad DeVos began working with the Bastiat Society in 2009 as their Managing Director to grow the program to dozens of chapters globally. He and the program joined the American Institute for Economic Research in 2017, and until 2023 he oversaw the growth of AIER’s academic programs. Brad earned a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Urban Studies from the College of Charleston, as well as a degree in Computer Aided Design and Drafting. He is a L.E.E.D. Accredited Professional, a graduate of the Atlas Think Tank Leadership Academy, and a member of the Foundation for Economic Education’s Faculty Network. Brad is also a member of the historic Mont Pelerin Society and serves as the Program Chair for the 2023 Regional MPS meeting in Bretton Woods. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife and daughter.