For many decades, a sacred myth has ruled the minds of policymakers and business leaders: free markets, untouched by the soiled hands of government, bring us prosperity and stability. But it’s wrong. American policymakers, on the right and left, have spent much of the past century actively shaping our markets for social and political goals. Their work behind the scenes has served as a kind of “marketcraft,” resembling the statecraft of international relations.

Economist and writer Chris Hughes takes us on a journey through the modern history of American capitalism, relating the captivating stories of the most effective marketcrafters and the ones who bungled the job. He reveals how both Republicans and Democrats have consistently attempted to organize markets for social and political reasons, like avoiding gasoline shortages, reducing inflation, fostering the American aviation and semiconductor industries, fighting climate change and supporting financial innovation. Groundbreaking, timely, and illuminating, Marketcrafters is a must-read for anyone interested in economic policy, financial markets, and the future of the American economy.

About the Author
Chris Hughes is an economist and writer who serves as Chair of the Economic Security Project, a leading nonprofit advocating for economic power for all Americans. He is the author of Marketcrafters: The 100-Year Struggle to Shape the American Economy, published by Simon & Schuster’s Avid Reader Press in 2025.

Hughes, who was a co-founder of Facebook, holds degrees in history and economics from Harvard and The New School for Social Research and is completing his PhD at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His writing and essays have been published by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Time Magazine and others. His first book, Fair Shot: Rethinking Inequality and How We Earn, was published by St Martin’s Press in 2018. He lives in New York City with his husband and two children.

This program is free, but advance registration is required. Registered guests will receive the link prior to the program. The first 100 guests will receive a FREE electronic copy of the book, courtesy of the Fordham Gabelli Center for Global Security Analysis.