Dr. Sarah Estelle is available as a speaker for selected in-person and virtual events.
To request Sarah to speak at your event, please complete the form at the bottom of the page. A list of selected speaking topics is below.
Selected Public Speaking Topics
The Economic Ways of Loving
The so-called "economic way of thinking" is instructive in some of the ways we can love, too. What does economics have to say about our love for mankind? our neighbors around the globe? the least of these among us? our local communities and families?
The Economic Way of Thinking
To be economically literate requires neither formal training nor advanced study. For those with the inclination, the most valuable economic principles can be understood with just a little nurturing of the “economic way of thinking.”
Effective Poverty Alleviation
What if our standard poverty relief efforts don’t work or, even, make things worse for the materially poor? This talk considers how recognizing the inherent dignity and value of each person can help us partner in development of individuals and communities for sustainable well-being.
Why Hayek Should Matter to Christians
Nobel Laureate economist F. A. Hayek is often recognized as author of the popular The Road to Serfdom or for his 20th-century opposition to interventionist John Maynard Keynes. This is an introduction to some of the main contributions of Hayek’s prolific career, many with direct relevance to people of faith.
Various topics bridging Nobel Laureate F.A. Hayek and traditional Christian theology
Though an avowed agnostic, Hayek was an admirer of religion, morality, and tradition for their roles in making the most of limited human nature. His keen observations of what Christians would consider the created order and of evolving cultural institutions readily intersect with traditional Christian theology and contemporary issues of interest to the church including wealth and poverty, family and local community, the role of the state, and economic, political, and religious liberty.
Contemporary Ethical Issues in a Changing Labor Market
Where policy is concerned, good intentions do not guarantee the desired outcomes. Examples can be found in minimum wage legislation, mandated paid parental leave, ban-the-box legislation, even approaches to sweatshop labor, as well as many aspects of education, healthcare, and workforce development.
What We Know (and Don't Know) About Criminal Justice Policy
The political climate around criminal justice is no longer predominately “tough on crime” but instead emphasizes “smart justice.” What do economic theory and data reveal about how we can safeguard public safety while stewarding public resources and recognizing the inherent dignity of former offenders?
How Globalization Erases Boundaries for the Poor
What do people usually mean when they reference the apparent monolith “globalization?” Basic economics points to a number of potential drawbacks but also some significant benefits, particularly for the global poor.
Principles for Workforce Development
For many decades, U.S. public policy has been involved in specific skills training of workers, whether through funding or direct provision. Even now when unemployment rates are low, state and local governments persist in these efforts. This lecture can focus on perceived needs (e.g., the “skills gap”), typical training strategies, and/or what we know about the consequences of government involvement in this sector.
Colloquia & Seminars
Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom
This discussion-based seminar aims to understand Hayek’s argument against central planning but also his support of the rule of law, international trade, economic, political, and religious liberty, even some regulation and a universal basic income.
From Smith to Friedman: Free Market Economics
Drawing on reading selections from Smith, Bastiat, Mill, Mises, Hayek and Friedman, this discussion aims to understand the timeless arguments for free exchange and markets.