By Riley Hill
Alberta’s New Democratic Party Leader Brian Mason and Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta Leader Danielle Smith will debate economics in public policy on April 11 at the University of Calgary.
Mason will examine a progressive system and Smith will advocate a libertarian stance on economics.
The Society of Undergraduates in Economics, a U of C student club, will host the event.
Fourth-year economics student and SUE member Jack Mills said the debate between “free market and socialist economics” will illustrate wider implications of what economics students learn in the classroom.
“You go through four years of economics and, typically, there isn’t much said about capitalism versus socialism even though it colours a lot of the curriculum,” said Mills. “[The event] is a way of just getting it a little bit more explicit.”
He said this straight-forward style will make the debate more interesting for U of C students.
“The idea is to just get as many people out, have a fun time and have a good show,” said Mills.
Mills said the event is not limited to economics students, adding members of the community can come out and watch as well.
“It’s open to the public, so even if you’re not a student you’re able to come,” said Mills. “The thing is, we want to branch this out and get more students, especially first-year students that might not have a selected major, to attend.”
Tickets for the event are $10 and will be available at the door. It will be hosted at the ICT building in room 121 from 7–9 p.m.