The Francisco Marroquín University (UFM) hosted its first Prosperity Lab Summit, titled "Prosperity Unleashed: Building the Foundations of Prosperous Societies," from August 7 to 9, 2025. The event brought together academics and professionals from various fields and countries to discuss experiences and knowledge through a series of organized activities.
Alejandro Quinteros, director of Prosperity Lab at UFM, stated, "The Prosperity Lab Summit allowed for a meeting of academics and professionals from different disciplines, coming from various parts of the world, who shared experiences and knowledge through the activities developed." He added, "For the Prosperity Lab at UFM, this is highly relevant because it allows us to identify opportunities and open new doors for the development of the project, not only in Guatemala but also in countries as close as Costa Rica and Panama, and even as far away as those in the Southern Cone and the United Kingdom."
The summit was attended by thirty-five international guests, twenty Guatemalans, and fifteen members of the Prosperity Lab team along with their collaborators. Notable attendees included Martín Burt from Fundación Paraguaya.
Virgil Storr, director of the Mercatus Center, delivered a lecture on "How Markets Make Us Better Off Materially, Socially, and Morally." Marian Tupy, co-author of The Simon Abundance Index and Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation, and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet, gave a presentation based on his latest book.
Other topics addressed during the summit included "Scholarship Meets Practice," "Educating for Human Flourishing: Nurturing Agency in Entrepreneurial Societies," "Entrepreneurship as a Driver for Prosperity," and "Measuring What Matters: Data-Driven Approaches to Expanding Our Understanding of Prosperity." Collaborative stations were set up to explore solutions to specific problems.
Joe Walenciak, professor at John Brown University commented, "This has been a blessing. The event was very useful to me and I made very good contacts… Thank you, and please call me if I can support any of these efforts in any way." James Harrigan from Polyhymnia added, "Thank you all for everything you have done." Gonzalo Schwarz from Archbridge Institute said, "I was able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones while planning future collaborations through our shared vision of promoting greater human flourishing."
The Prosperity Lab Summit had an impact on both academic and professional communities by establishing UFM as a meeting place for those working toward human flourishing and prosperity worldwide.
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