Date: Saturday, 5 October 2024
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM (Speech) | 4:00 PM (Reception for Columbia Alumni and Guests)
Venue: Auditorium, 19th Building, 19th Floor, Siam University, Bangkok, Thailand
Co-hosted by: Columbia University, Columbia SIPA (School of International and Public Affairs), Siam University & Siam University MBA
Media Coverage: Bangkok Post
Category: News / Academic Leadership & Global Economic Thought
Overview
In a landmark academic event, Siam University welcomed one of the world’s most distinguished economists to its Bangkok campus — Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel Prize Winner in Economics (2001) and former Chief Economist of the World Bank. Co-hosted with Columbia University and the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the event centred on Stiglitz’s latest book, The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society, and drew 120 regional economic experts, senior policymakers, and SIPA alumni for an intimate, high-level dialogue on the future of economic freedom.
The event was covered by the Bangkok Post under the headline: “Joseph Stiglitz: A Path to Freedom for a Better Economy and Society.”
The Dialogue: A Path to Freedom
The afternoon session took the form of a live dialogue, with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jomphong Mongkhonvanit — Vice President and Dean of Siam University’s Graduate School of Business, and one of Stiglitz’s former students at Columbia — serving as interviewer and host. The two sat on stage in front of a packed auditorium, engaging in a candid, wide-ranging conversation on some of the defining economic questions of our time.
At the heart of the discussion was Stiglitz’s central argument in The Road to Freedom: that the dominant neoliberal conception of freedom — one that privileges market deregulation and corporate autonomy — has failed to deliver prosperity for all. Instead, it has generated deepening inequality, environmental degradation, and social fragmentation.
Stiglitz proposed a more humanitarian framework for economic freedom — one where government, regulation, and collective action are not obstacles to liberty, but its essential guarantors.
About the Book
The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society (2024) is Stiglitz’s most direct challenge yet to the economic orthodoxy associated with Hayek and Friedman. Drawing on decades of empirical research and policy experience, he argues that:
- Markets left to themselves produce outcomes that are neither efficient nor just
- True freedom requires access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunity — not merely the absence of government interference
- A progressive rethinking of economic policy — grounded in evidence, equity, and sustainability — is both possible and urgently necessary
The book was prominently displayed on stage during the event, symbolising Siam University’s commitment to bringing cutting-edge global scholarship directly to its academic community.
A Gathering of Regional Leaders
The event attracted an exceptional audience — 120 regional economic experts, policymakers, and Columbia SIPA alumni — reflecting the depth of the network connecting Siam University to global academic and policy circles. The post-speech reception for Columbia Alumni and Guests provided an opportunity for continued dialogue in a more intimate setting.
Also in attendance was Dr. Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, President of Siam University, underscoring the institutional significance of the occasion.
The event generated broad social media engagement, with both Dr. Jomphong and Dr. Pornchai sharing warm reflections on the memorable occasion — describing it as one of the most intellectually significant events in Siam University’s recent history.
Siam University as a Hub for Global Intellectual Exchange
This event exemplifies Siam University’s strategic positioning as a bridge between global academic leadership and Thai policy discourse. Through its deep ties with Columbia University and SIPA — two of the world’s foremost institutions for international affairs and economic scholarship — Siam University is creating platforms for the kind of rigorous, substantive dialogue that shapes both thinking and practice.
For students, faculty, and the broader academic community in Thailand, the opportunity to engage directly with a Nobel laureate — and one of the world’s most consequential public intellectuals — represents the kind of educational experience that extends well beyond the classroom.
Key Takeaways
- Prof. Joseph Stiglitz’s visit to Siam University on 5 October 2024 was a landmark event in Thai higher education — bringing Nobel-level economic scholarship to a Bangkok campus audience
- The dialogue, co-hosted with Columbia University and Columbia SIPA, attracted 120 regional economic experts, policymakers, and alumni — reflecting the strength of Siam University’s international academic network
- Stiglitz’s core message — that freedom requires humanitarianism, not just market liberalisation — carries direct relevance for Thailand’s own development challenges, including inequality, rural-urban disparity, and sustainable growth
- The event was covered by the Bangkok Post, amplifying its reach and reinforcing Siam University’s profile as a serious venue for international intellectual exchange
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jomphong Mongkhonvanit’s role as host and interviewer — as a former student of Stiglitz — gave the dialogue a uniquely personal and intellectually rich dimension
Co-hosted by Columbia University, Columbia SIPA, Siam University, and Siam University MBA. Covered by Bangkok Post: “Joseph Stiglitz: A Path to Freedom for a Better Economy and Society.”