Description

Having described Thatcher as “the woman who was the pivotal point of the rescue of a country, thewoman who woke up her nation and made it once again a world leader and player,” Blundell will shareinsight into how the character and rock-solid principles of freedom and personal responsibility wereformed in Lady Thatcher — in large part toher father, who was a store owner and local council member — and how those beliefs affected an entire nation. In addition, Blundell will share similaritiesand differences between the U.K. and U.S.economic political systems, as well as the state of the American economy. “Since 1945, we have hada colossal increase of wealth,” Mr. Blundell said, referencing the rule of 70, which estimates the number of years for a variable to double. “The American economy has grown eightfold during the past 66 years.” Blundell is the former Director General and RalphHarris Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, which had a great impact on helping develop anddisseminate Thatcher’s economic policies. Lady Thatcher said of him: “John Blundell has been one ofthe most effective champions of the free-enterprise economic model which has delivered progress andprosperity around the world. It’s the kind of “progress” that helped save a nation and that Blundell talks about in his excellent book “Margaret Thatcher: A Portrait of the Iron Lady.” The event ispart of Northwood’s Values Emphasis Speakers Series, which was developed in response to a desire tointegrate renowned experts into studentengagement opportunities. In addition to providing a qualitybusiness education, Northwood seeks todevelop students’ interest and awareness regarding current events, current leaders and potential changes on the economic horizon. Blundell graduated from theLondon School of Economics. He is a distinguished senior fellow and former director general of theInstitute of Economic Affairs, the UK's most influential think tank that also works with students and teachers to equip tomorrow’s leaderswith a deep understanding of free market economics. He is a past president of the Charles G. Koch Foundation and the Institute for Humane Studies and is still actively involved. Mr. Blundell is a prolific author with additional publications including Ladies forLiberty – Women Who Made a Differencein American History (2010) and Waging the War of Ideas (2007).In 2010, Blundell received an honorary doctorate from the University of Buckingham, UK, in science and an honorary doctorate in social science, which also awarded him the title of Honorary Professor,from Universidad Francisco Marroquinin Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America.