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Craig J. Richardson, Ph.D. · Wednesday, November 11, 2026
“The Good Intentions Trap” — How Government Programs Ensnared People in Poverty
Wed. Nov. 11 · 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM · Cantina 18, Raleigh, NC
Details & Registration ↓
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Raleigh Economics Club · 11552 US-15 501 N, Ste 202, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 · info@raleigheconomics.org
▶ Next Event
Craig J. Richardson, Ph.D. · Wednesday, November 11, 2026
“The Good Intentions Trap” — How Government Programs Ensnared People in Poverty
Wed. Nov. 11 · 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM · Cantina 18, Raleigh, NC
Details & Registration ↓
Who We Are
The Raleigh Economics Club is a forum for entrepreneurs, business leaders, students, and citizens dedicated to economic freedom, constitutional liberty, and the flourishing of our community. We believe enduring prosperity flows from individual liberty, limited government, and the free exchange of ideas and goods.
Our Mission & IdeasThe Raleigh region is one of America's fastest-growing centers of innovation and civic leadership — yet free societies do not sustain themselves automatically. The Raleigh Economics Club exists to foster serious conversation, intellectual curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the institutions that make prosperity possible.
Attend an EventCalendar
Registering is your RSVP — there's no separate RSVP step. Every option above, including complimentary Founding Donor registration, confirms your seat for November 11.
Refunds. Registrations are refundable up to 48 hours before the event — email info@raleigheconomics.org with your name and the event date, and approved refunds return to your original payment method within 3–5 business days.
Delivery. Registration is confirmed electronically: you'll receive an email confirmation and receipt, and admission is handled at the door under your name. The Club does not sell or ship physical goods.
Tax note. Event registration fees are payments for a meal and program, not charitable contributions, and are generally not tax-deductible. If you separately make a charitable contribution to REC, please consult your tax adviser regarding its deductibility — particularly if you receive a benefit, such as complimentary admission, in connection with that gift.
Available to qualifying REC supporters who contributed $50 or more on or before September 9, 2026, and to representatives of Silver and Gold corporate sponsors. Eligibility will be verified against our records. Register below — no payment needed, but registration is still required so we have an accurate headcount.
Upcoming Speakers
How Government Programs Ensnared People in Poverty (and New Ideas for Change)
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 · Craig J. Richardson, Ph.D., is the Truist Distinguished Professor of Economics and Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Economic Mobility at Winston-Salem State University.
Professor Richardson will examine how well-intentioned government benefit programs can sometimes discourage economic mobility. His research goes beyond the familiar “benefits cliff” — the sudden loss of assistance as income rises — to what he calls the “disincentive desert,” extended income ranges in which additional earnings can be substantially offset by lost benefits.
Richardson will also discuss emerging approaches designed to reduce these work and advancement disincentives, including innovative programs being developed in Utah and promoted by the Georgia Center for Opportunity.
Richardson has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and Forbes and has published academic research and policy studies on economic mobility, economic development, housing, transportation, and the unintended consequences of public policy. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has also worked as a consultant to businesses, local governments, policy organizations, and the World Bank.
Meeting schedule: Most meetings are held on the second or third Wednesday of the month. The Club is dark in July, August, and December unless otherwise arranged. Event locations may change from month to month — please check back each month for current details.
Photos & Video: Event photos and speaker videos appear in the Videos section and on the Raleigh Economics Club YouTube channel as they become available.
Admission is subject to venue capacity; registrants will be notified if an event reaches capacity. | Pricing, Founding Donor registration, and refund terms are in the registration section above. | Questions: info@raleigheconomics.org
September 9, 2026
On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, the Raleigh Economics Club held its inaugural luncheon at Cantina 18 in Raleigh — the founding event of a civic forum built to outlast us all. Featured speaker John Hood, President of the John William Pope Foundation, addressed "Creative Construction: Economic Dynamism and the Carolina Comeback" before a full room of members, founding donors, and guests.
Program
Event Video
Photo Gallery
A look back at the energy, attendance, and networking that launched the Raleigh Economics Club. More photographs will be added as they're received.
Read the full written recap on the blog, or find more speaker videos in the Videos section.
Support the Club
The Raleigh Economics Club runs on the support of people who believe these ideas matter. Your contribution keeps events open and affordable — advance registration is just $25 — and brings leading voices like John Hood and Dr. Carolyn Bourdeaux to the table for serious conversation about liberty and free enterprise. Founding support now is what makes a lasting civic forum in the City of Oaks possible; a gift at any level helps launch something meant to outlast us all.
All contributions renew annually on September 1, the start of the Raleigh Economics Club fiscal year. Contributions made between April 1 and August 31 are credited to the fiscal year beginning September 1. Event registration and charitable contributions are separate — registration covers attendance at a specific event, and a contribution supports REC's broader mission.
Tax note. No goods or services are provided in exchange for a charitable contribution unless specifically stated otherwise. Please consult your tax adviser regarding the deductibility of your contribution.
In the weeks before our September 9, 2026 launch, REC invited early supporters to help fund the club's start-up costs — venue deposits, insurance, initial operations — before a single event had been held. Those founding gifts made the inaugural luncheon possible. In recognition, everyone who gave $50 or more before that date attends REC events at no charge through September 8, 2027.
Qualify as a Founding Donor (contributed $50 or more on or before September 9, 2026) or a sponsor representative? Register for each event with Founding Donor Registration — no payment needed. Listing in the Founders Circle is optional — opt out at any time by emailing info@raleigheconomics.org.
Supporting Economic Freedom in Raleigh
Corporate and organizational contributions are welcome at the Silver ($1,000) and Gold ($2,500) levels. All sponsorships renew annually on September 1; gifts made between April 1 and August 31 are credited to the fiscal year beginning that September 1.
Prefer to pay by check or bank transfer? Corporate and organizational supporters may contribute by check or electronic bank transfer (EFT) if preferred — email info@raleigheconomics.org and we'll provide payment details.
Sponsor representatives register for their complimentary admissions via Founding Donor Registration — include your organization name. | Additional attendees beyond complimentary seats: $25 per person per event. | Website listing is optional — sponsors may opt out at any time. | Questions: info@raleigheconomics.org
Founding Members
A founding circle committed to economic literacy, civic friendship, free enterprise, and constitutional liberty.
Steering Committee
Founding Circle Members
The Founders Circle recognizes individuals whose annual contributions help launch and sustain the Club. Listings reflect the current year and renew with continued support. Founding members are listed here as they join — listing prominence scales with contribution level, and listing is entirely optional; contributors may opt out or update their listing at any time by emailing info@raleigheconomics.org.
Become a founding member. Contributions at any level — Student/Academic ($50), Supporter ($100), Patron ($250), or Founding Circle ($500) — sustain the Club and are recognized here. See contribution levels →
Corporate & Organizational Supporters
Silver ($1,000) and Gold ($2,500) supporters are recognized here as they join. To become a founding sponsor, please see sponsorship levels or contact us at info@raleigheconomics.org.
Ideas
The Raleigh Economics Club was founded on a conviction shared by America's greatest leaders across generations: that liberty is not self-sustaining. It demands informed, engaged, and principled citizens who understand both the promise of free markets and the constitutional order that protects them. The words below remind us why this work matters.
"Liberty is not collective, it is personal. All liberty is individual liberty. Duty is not collective; it is personal."
— Calvin Coolidge
Address before the Holy Name Society, September 21, 1924
Free societies begin with respect for individual rights and responsibilities.
"There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts."
— Ronald Reagan
Farewell Address to the Nation, January 11, 1989
The preservation of liberty requires attention to the proper limits of governmental power.
"The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design."
— F.A. Hayek
The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism (1988)
Spontaneous order — not central planning — is the engine of prosperity and human flourishing.
"The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else."
— Frédéric Bastiat
The State (1848), Journal des Débats
Bastiat's insight remains the sharpest diagnosis of the temptation to substitute political force for voluntary exchange.
Videos
Watch recordings of Raleigh Economics Club events and selected interviews featuring REC speakers and guests. Videos include original REC productions and programs shared courtesy of other publishers.
Featured Interview
October 16, 2026
How serious is America's growing national debt—and what can we do about it? Dr. Carolyn Bourdeaux, Executive Director of the Concord Coalition, recently joined Mitch Kokai on Carolina Journal's The Debrief to discuss America's mounting federal debt and the fiscal challenges facing the nation.
Watch Carolyn Bourdeaux's Interview ↗The interview begins at 19:18 in the original program.
Video courtesy of Carolina Journal. Interview conducted by Mitch Kokai.
Speaker Videos
Explore original REC videos on our YouTube channel, along with selected interviews curated in our public speaker-interviews playlist. Subscribe to stay informed as new recordings become available.
Subscribe on YouTube ▶REC President Brad Taylor recently joined Mitch Kokai of Carolina Journal to discuss why we started the Raleigh Economics Club and what we hope to build: a community for serious economic discussion, civil debate, networking, and the principles of liberty, free enterprise and prosperity.
That conversation previewed our inaugural luncheon with John Hood, held Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at Cantina 18, Raleigh.
Watch the Inaugural Program →More From REC
More speaker videos and event recordings appear below as they're posted.
Event Photos
Photos from the inaugural luncheon are up on the Inaugural Luncheon page. Photos from future events will appear here as they take place.
Blog
The five most recent posts from the Club. See the full archive for everything.
The true cost of government borrowing isn't just the interest Washington pays. It's also the investments, opportunities, and choices Americans may give up.
What a new book—and a Wall Street Journal review—remind us about economic reasoning, intellectual humility, and the power of ideas.
Why more spending doesn't necessarily mean more prosperity: housing, rent control, health care, competition, tariffs, and the real sources of affordability.
Debt is not dangerous just because it is large. Sustainability depends on interest rates, growth and the primary budget balance, with clear examples.
Government debt pays investors, but excessive borrowing can crowd out private investment. Clear examples explain interest, inflation, and the unseen costs.
Film and television productions bring jobs and spending to North Carolina. But the current controversy over the state's film incentive raises a more fundamental economic question: Should taxpayers have to subsidize an industry to persuade it to do business here?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meeting format?
Each event features a sit-down buffet lunch and soft beverages, followed by a speaker presentation and open Q&A discussion.
When do events start and end?
Events begin at 11:30 AM with approximately 10 minutes of meet-and-greet. The speaker presents for approximately 25 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A, concluding by 12:30 PM. Open networking follows until approximately 1:00 PM.
Is it lecture-only, or is there discussion?
Both. Each event features a speaker presentation followed by an open Q&A. We encourage thoughtful questions and lively exchange.
Are events open to the public?
Yes. Events are currently open to the public. Advance registration is required and closes at 9:00 AM the morning of each event.
What does it cost to attend?
Advance registration is $25 per person, $20 for students/academics with a .edu email or valid student ID, and $30 at the door. Advance pricing closes at 9:00 AM the day of the event. Founding Donors (anyone who contributed $50 or more on or before September 9, 2026) and corporate sponsor representatives — up to 2 for Silver sponsors ($1,000) and 5 for Gold sponsors ($2,500) — register at no charge. Registrations are refundable up to 48 hours before the event — see the refund policy.
I'm a Founding Donor or sponsor representative — how do I register for events?
Use Founding Donor Registration in the Events section before each event — no payment needed. Please register with the same email address associated with your contribution, as registrations are verified against founding-donor and sponsor records. Corporate sponsor representatives use the same form and should include their organization name.
What topics does the club cover?
The Raleigh Economics Club is dedicated to economic freedom, constitutional liberty, and free enterprise. See our Mission Statement in the Ideas section.
How are events funded?
Events are supported through registration fees and the generous contributions of individuals, companies, and organizations who support the club's mission of economic freedom and free enterprise.
When are contributions due?
All individual and corporate contributions renew annually on September 1, the start of the Raleigh Economics Club fiscal year. Contributions made between April 1 and August 31 are credited to the upcoming fiscal year beginning September 1 — making spring and summer an ideal time to join.
Are my contributions and registration fees tax-deductible?
Event registration fees ($25/$20/$30) are payments for a meal and program, not charitable contributions, and are generally not tax-deductible. For a charitable contribution, no goods or services are provided in exchange unless specifically stated otherwise — if that's the case for you, your contribution is deductible only to the extent it exceeds the value of any benefit you receive (for example, complimentary event admission). Please consult your tax adviser regarding the deductibility of your specific contribution.
How many events are held each year?
The Raleigh Economics Club holds approximately nine events per year, depending on speaker availability. Most meetings are held on the second or third Wednesday of the month, and the Club is dark in July, August, and December unless otherwise arranged. Event locations may change from month to month, so please check the Events section each month for current details. Additional events may be scheduled more informally depending on interest and demand.
How do I become a contributor?
Visit the Support the Club section for individual contribution levels and corporate sponsorship information.
Get in Touch
Raleigh Economics Club
11552 US-15 501 N, Ste 202
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Phone:
(919) 374-0474
Email:
info@raleigheconomics.org
For event registration, sponsorship inquiries, or speaker suggestions, we welcome your message.
The Raleigh Economics Club is a North Carolina nonprofit corporation.
Federal tax-exempt status pending.
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With Gratitude
The Raleigh Economics Club is grateful to those whose counsel, expertise, and generosity made this organization possible. We especially thank William W. Nelson of Smith Anderson and John Hahn of Mayer Brown for their invaluable assistance in initiating and organizing this nonprofit. We are grateful to Richard Salsman, advisor and friend, and to the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), whose Bastiat Society and Harwood Salons helped lay the groundwork for this club.
We also thank our founding supporters, event volunteers, and the Raleigh business community whose enthusiasm has brought the club to life.
Editorial Policy
The Raleigh Economics Club is a nonprofit organization. Its application for federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is pending. Articles, blog posts, comments, videos, interviews, social media content, and speaker presentations published or hosted by REC are provided free of charge, for general educational purposes, to promote informed public discussion and understanding of economics, economic policy, free enterprise, and related issues. REC does not sell subscriptions to this content and is not compensated in connection with any specific investment recommendation.
None of this content constitutes financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, and none of it is tailored to any individual's specific circumstances. REC does not recommend buying, selling, or holding any particular security, investment, or financial product. No one should rely on any REC blog post, article, comment, social media post, video, or statement by a speaker or affiliated individual as the basis for a financial, investment, legal, or tax decision. Readers should consult a qualified, licensed professional before making such decisions.
REC invites outside speakers to present independently at its events. REC does not pre-approve, edit, control, or adopt the specific statements, opinions, or recommendations made by any speaker, and does not compensate speakers for making investment recommendations. A speaker's views are that speaker's own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Raleigh Economics Club.
No contribution, donation, sponsorship, or membership payment to REC constitutes payment for any advice, general or specific. Contributions to REC support the Club's broader charitable mission of promoting liberty, free enterprise, and prosperity, and do not entitle any contributor to individualized financial, investment, legal, or tax advice or to any greater reliance on REC content than is afforded to the general public.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, views expressed in REC publications, events, or social media do not necessarily represent the views of REC's Founders Circle members, advisers, speakers, contributors, sponsors, event participants, or other affiliated persons.
Where appropriate, REC identifies or links to significant underlying sources so readers can review the original material for themselves.