Richard Epstein has been one of the most influential scholars in law and economics for over four decades. Known as one of the nation’s leading advocates of libertarian conservatism, Epstein has published more than 15 books championing individual liberties and private property.

He will discuss his economic viewpoints during a lecture at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (1801 Euclid Ave.) Wednesday, March 9 at 5 p.m. in the school’s Moot Court Room. His visit to campus is sponsored by the Cleveland-Marshall Fund.

Epstein is the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Law at NYU School of Law and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. His latest book, The Classical Liberal Constitution: The Uncertain Quest for Limited Government (Harvard University Press, 2014), urges a return to the theory of limited governance that animated the Founding Fathers' original text.

During the March 9 lecture, Epstein will provide insights on how to reverse the current downward economic spiral he believes is fueled by the fight against income inequality in modern progressive circles. According to Epstein, it is an illusion that higher taxes and stiffer regulations can raise the economically disadvantaged and the likely consequences of these efforts will continue the negative economic drift of the past decade.

The lecture is free and open to the public and preregistration is not required.