GUEST SPEAKER
Peter Thiel 

ISSUES DISCUSSED
Peter Thiel spoke about the basic principles that underlie innovative products and startup firms, using examples from his own experience starting up firms such as Paypal and Palantir. 
He  emphasized the importance of creating a firm or product with characteristics of monopoly, and contrasted that idea with the distinction between monopoly and competition taught in economics. He also spoke more broadly about the future of technology and its impact on economic growth in developed countries. He answered questions about his ideas applied to clean-tech and ed-tech firms. 

Upcoming Events

Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Ideas Uncorked: National Treasure Book Launch
The Hoover Institution in DC hosts Ideas Uncorked: National Treasure Book Launch on Thursday, June 18 from 5:00-6:30 pm ET. The event will feature… Hoover Institution in DC
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
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Call For Papers: Renewing Indigenous Economies Research Workshop
The Renewing Indigenous Economies Project invites submissions for its upcoming Research Workshop, to be held October 8–9, 2026, at Stanford…
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Kay Udea leading a discussion during the Second international workshop on Japanese diaspora 2022
第4 回ジャパニーズ・ディアスポラ国際ワークショップ
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
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