The October 19 Lab seminar was led by Luigi Zingales, Robert C. McCormack Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Zingales’ presentation focused on the prevention of academic economists’ capture, arguing that academics may be just as prone to capture as regulators, though few will admit it. Seminar participants offered their insights on his outline of the forces that lead to capture, as well as some proposed remedies.

Zingales opened the seminar by noting that in general, both academic...