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

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
taiwan
Taiwanese Support For Self-Defense
The Hoover Institution Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Region invites you to Taiwanese Support for Self-Defense on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 1:30-3:00 pm… Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
National Treasure by Michael Auslin
National Treasure: How The Declaration Of Independence Made America
The Hoover's History Lab and Center for Revitalizing American Institutions invites you to National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made… Shultz Auditorium, George P. Shultz Building
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Red Dawn Over China
Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered A Quarter Of Humanity
The Hoover Institution invites you to Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity, a book talk with the author, Frank Dikötter… Shultz Auditorium, George P. Shultz Building
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