Events 2017-2018

Adam Smith: what he thought, and why it matters, by Jesse Norman

Monday 09 July 2018, 6:30-8:00 pm
Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House

Hosted by the Department and the Centre for Macroeconomics

At a time when economics and politics are both increasingly polarized between left and right, this book, Adam Smith: What He Thought, and Why it Matters, which Jesse Norman will discuss at this event, returns to intellectual first principles to recreate the lost centre of public debate. It offers a Smithian analysis of contemporary markets, predatory capitalism and the 2008 financial crash; it addresses crucial issues of inequality, human dignity and exploitation; and it provides a compelling explanation of why Smith is central to any attempt to defend and renew the market system.

Jesse Norman MP (@Jesse_Norman) studied at Oxford, before completing a Masters and PhD in Philosophy at University College London. Before entering politics, he ran an educational project in Communist Eastern Europe and was a Director at Barclays. He has also been an Honorary Fellow at UCL, a Governor of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research, and a Visiting Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford. His previous books include a celebrated study of Edmund Burke. He currently serves as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Transport.

Tim Besley, who will be chairing the event, is School Professor of Economics of Political Science and W Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics in the Department.

Twitter hashtag for this event: #LSEAdamSmith

Info: This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required - further information from LSE Events.

Recordings: Audio recording on LSE Media page

July 2018

LSE Workshop on Finance and Development

Monday 11 - Tuesday 12 June 2018
32LIF.1.04, 32 Linconln's Inn Fields

Hosted by Tim Besley (LSE), Konrad Burchardi (IIES), Maitreesh Ghatak (LSE), and Nicola Limodio (Bocconi)

The first LSE Workshop on Finance and Development brings together a group of researchers who are working on the micro and macro aspects of finance and its role in economic development. 

View the workshop schedule and information about the speakers here.

June 2018

The Morishima Lecture
Public Policy and Retirement Security: A Trans-Atlantic Perspective, by James Poterba

Wednesday 6 June 2018, 6:00pm
32L.1.04, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields
Hosted by STICERD

Retirement pension plans are a major challenge in countries with ageing populations. James Poterba will discuss how their design evolved over the last decades and how the US and UK followed strikingly different paths.

James Poterba is the Mitsui Professor of Economics at MIT and the President of the National Bureau of Economic Research. He has served as President of the Eastern Economic Association and the National Tax Association, as vice president of the American Economic Association, and as a director of the American Finance Association. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Econometric Society. He has also served as a member of the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform in 2005.

Dr Poterba's research focuses on how taxation affects the economic decisions of households and firms, particularly those involving saving and portfolio behaviour. His recent research has analysed the determinants of retirement saving, the draw-down of assets after households reach retirement, and the role of tax-deferred retirement saving programs such as 401(k) plans in contributing to retirement security.

Tim Besley, School Professor of Economics and Political Science and W Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics, will chair the event.

After the lecture, James Poterba will present the Hicks Prize to Guo Xu for his thesis entitled “Essays in Development and Organisation”.

Twitter hashtag for this event: #LSEMorishima

As space is limited, to reserve a place, please email Jane Dickson.

Further information is available here.

June 2018

Collusion: how central bankers rigged the world, by Nomi Prins

Monday 14 May 2018, 6:30-8:00 pm
Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building

Hosted by the Department and the Centre for Macroeconomics

In her new book, which she will talk about at this event, former Wall Street insider Nomi Prins shows how the 2007–2008 financial crisis turbo-boosted the influence of central bankers and triggered a massive shift in the world order. Central banks and international institutions like the IMF have overstepped their traditional mandates by directing the flow of epic sums of fabricated money without any checks or balances. Meanwhile, the open door between private and central banking has ensured endless opportunities for market manipulation and asset bubbles—with government support.

Journalist and former global investment bank executive Nomi Prins (@nomiprins) is the author of six previous books. This event marks the publication of her latest book, Collusion: How Central Bankers Rigged the World.

Wouter den Haan, chairing the lecture, is Co-director for the Centre for Macroeconomics and Professor of Economics at LSE.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEPrins 

Info: This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required - further information from LSE Events.

Recordings: Audio recording on Soundcloud

May 2018

The Value of Everything: making and taking in the global economy, by Mariana Mazzucato

Monday 23 April 2018, 6:30-8:00 pm
Old Theatre, Old Building

Hosted by the Department and the Centre for Macroeconomics

In her new book, The Value of Everything, which she will discuss in this lecture, Mariana Mazzucato, argues that if we are to reform capitalism, we urgently need to rethink where wealth comes from. Who is creating it, who is extracting it, and who is destroying it? Answers to these questions are key if we want to replace the current parasitic system with a type of capitalism that is more sustainable, more symbiotic: that works for us all. 

Mariana Mazzucato (@MazzucatoM) is Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London (UCL) where she is also Founder and Director of the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. She is author of the highly-acclaimed book The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths, and winner of the 2014 New Statesman SPERI Prize in Political Economy, the 2015 Hans-Matthöfer-Preis and the 2018 Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought. She advises policymakers around the world on how to deliver 'smart', inclusive and sustainable growth. She was named as one of the '3 most important thinkers about innovation' in the New Republic.

Wouter den Haan, chairing the lecture, is Co-director for the Centre for Macroeconomics and Professor of Economics at LSE.

Twitter hashtag for this event: #LSEMazzucato

Info: This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required - further information from LSE Events.

Recordings: Audio recording on LSE Media page, Video recording on Facebook

April 2018

Does the UK Need its Own Infrastructure Bank? Panel discussion

Tuesday 24 April 2018, 7:00-8:15 pm
Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House

Hosted by the Department

This panel discussion will explore whether the UK should establish a new bank to support infrastructure investment.

This event is being held with the UK National Infrastructure Commission, which is considering this issue as part of its upcoming National Infrastructure Assessment.

Danny Alexander (@dannyalexander) is Vice President at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Robert Bartlett is Head of Infrastructure at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.

Tamsyn Barton (@TBartonBond) is Chief Executive of Bond.

Kwasi Kwarteng (@KwasiKwarteng) is MP for Spelthorne and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Tim Besley is School Professor of Economics of Political Science and W. Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics in the Department of Economics at LSE, and is a member of the National Infrastructure Commission.

Twitter hashtag for this event: #LSEInfrastructure

Info: This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required - further information from LSE Events. 

Recordings: Audio recording on LSE Media page, Video recording on YouTube

April 2018

The New Conventional Central Bank, by Ricardo Reis

Wednesday 25 April 2018, 6:30-8:00 pm
Old Theatre, Old Building

Inaugural lecture hosted by the Department

Event rescheduled from February 2018

Professor Ricardo Reis gives his inaugural lecture as A W Phillips Professor of Economics (A W Phillips Chair in Empirical Macroeconomics).

Central banks in 2018 look nothing like they did in 2006, Ricardo Reis questions whether should they go back to the old days, or aim to being very different by 2030? 

Ricardo Reis is the A W Phillips Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics. He is a consultant to central banks around the world, and is former the chief editor of the Journal of Monetary Economics.

Twitter hashtag for this event: #LSEReis

Info: This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required - further information is available here.

Recording: Video recording on the website, Video recording on YouTube

April 2018

The Almighty Dollar, by Dharshini David

Thursday 08 March 2018, 6:30-8:00 pm
Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House

Hosted by the Department and the Centre for Macroeconomics

The dollar is the lifeblood of globalisation: China holds billions in reserve for good reason. Greenbacks, singles, bucks or dead presidents, call them what you will, $1.2 trillion worth are floating around right now – and half the dollars in circulation are actually outside of the USA.

But what is really happening as these billions of dollars go around the world every day? By following $1 from a shopping trip in suburban Texas, via China’s Central Bank, Nigerian railroads, the oil fields of Iraq and beyond, The Almighty Dollar answers questions such as: why is China the world’s biggest manufacturer – and the US its biggest customer? Is free trade really a good thing? Why would a nation build a bridge on the other side of the globe?

Dharshini David (@DharshiniDavid) is an economist and broadcaster. From 2009 she fronted Sky News’ daily financial coverage and copresented Sky News Tonight.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEdollar

Info: This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required - further information from LSE Events.

Recording: Video recording on YouTube, Audio recording on SoundCloud

March 2018

Due to the adverse weather conditions, the Inaugural lecture by Professor Ricardo Reis TONIGHT is CANCELLED.

The lecture will be rescheduled and information about the new date will be available through our website and social media.

The New Conventional Central Bank, by Ricardo Reis

Wednesday 28 February 2018, 6:30-8:00 pm
Old Theatre, Old Building

Inaugural lecture hosted by the Department

LECTURE TO BE RESCHEDULED

Professor Ricardo Reis gives his inaugural lecture as A W Phillips Professor of Economics (A W Phillips Chair in Empirical Macroeconomics).

Central banks in 2018 look nothing like they did in 2006, Ricardo Reis questions whether should they go back to the old days, or aim to being very different by 2030? 

Ricardo Reis is the A W Phillips Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics. He is a consultant to central banks around the world, and is former the chief editor of the Journal of Monetary Economics.

Twitter hashtage for this event: #LSEReis

Info: This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required - further information here .

February 2018

The Growth Delusion, by David Pilling

Monday 29 January 2018, 6.30-8 pm
Sheikh Zeyed Theatre, New Academic Building

Hosted by the Department and the Centre for Macroeconomics

David Pilling explores how economists and their cult of growth have hijacked our policy-making and infiltrated our thinking about what makes societies work. Our policies are geared relentlessly towards increasing our standard measure of growth, Gross Domestic Product. By this yardstick we have never been wealthier or happier. So why doesn't it feel that way?

David Pilling (@davidpilling) has been at the Financial Times for 25 years, first as Asia Editor and now Africa Editor.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEPilling 

Info: This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required - further information from LSE Events.

Recording: Video recording on YouTube

January 2018

A World of Three Zeroes: the new economics of zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions, by Muhammed Yunus

Saturday 11 November 2017, 6.30-8 pm
Old Theatre, Old Building

Hosted by the Department and the Centre for Macroeconomics

Muhammed Yunus is the economist who invented microcredit, founded Grameen Bank, and earned a Nobel Peace Prize for his work towards alleviating poverty. The capitalist system, in its current form, is broken. Dr Yunus outlines his radical economic vision for fixing it, as explored in his new book A World of Three Zeroes.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEYunus

Info: Tickets available from Thursday 2 November - further information from LSE Events.

Recordings: Video recording on YouTube, Recordings on LSE Media page

November 2017

Assessing Global Financial Stability: where do we stand? by Tobias Adrian

Friday 27 October 2017, 12-1 pm
Shaw Library, Old Building

Hosted by the Department and the Centre for Macroeconomics

During his lecture, Tobias Adrian will discuss the main features of a framework to assess global financial stability in a comprehensive and consistent way. He will also present the analysis of the October 2017 Global Financial Stability Report, which identifies sources of financial instability and the policies to mitigate risks to growth. The report focuses on the interplay between financial and macroeconomic developments, and assesses the degree to which these interactions pose risks that could threaten economic growth.

Dr Tobias Adrian, an LSE alumnus, is the Financial Counsellor and Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEeconomics

Info: Tickets available from Thursday 2 November - further information from LSE Events.

Recordings: Video recording on YouTube, Recordings on LSE Media page

Economics for the Common Good, by Jean Tirole

Tuesday 17 October 2017, 6:30-8 pm
Old Theatre, Old Building

Hosted by the Department and the Centre for Macroeconomics

Jean Tirole, winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Economics, is Chairman, Toulouse School of Economics and Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse. Professor Tirole’s  transformation from academic economist to public intellectual prompted him to reflect on the role of economists in society. The result is his book Economics for the Common Good.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEeconomics

Info: Tickets available from Tuesday 10 October - further information from LSE Events.

Recordings: Audio recording on Soundcloud, Video recording on YouTube, Recordings on LSE Media page