17th March 2010: ESRC – Making Politics Matter

ESRC – MAKING POLITICS MATTER
Crunch or crisis?

Turbulent times for the British economy

How serious was the recent economic crisis?
How did it come about?
With Britain’s recession apparently at an end, is this crisis really over?
How are we likely to feel its effects in the future?

Come along and participate in this debate, which will bring together the general public, social scientists, and those ‘in the know’.



Part 1: What can social science tell us about the financial crisis?


Dr Gioia Pescetto (Dean, Faculty of Business and Management, Canterbury Christ Church University)

The recent crisis was not merely the consequence of market failure, but rather of systemic failure. This talk will maintain that risk is central to an effectively functioning financial system, but that such risk needs to be managed.


Professor Chris Pickvance (Professor of Urban Studies, University of Kent)

Effective reform to the economic system can only be achieved if the current capture of government and regulators by the banking industry is challenged. For reform to be a success, a widespread public debate is required.



Part 2: Voices from the public and private sectors


Richard Ascough (Secretary of the GMB Southern Region)

A key argument will be that public service workers ought not to have to suffer for an economic crisis that was not their making. Why should the tax payers take the pain, while the bankers take the gain?


Roger House (Chair, Federation of Small Business, South Eastern Policy Unit)

It will be argued that small businesses – and particularly ‘micro-businesses’ are essential to the recovery of the British economy. Accordingly, government ought not to stifle these small businesses with time-consuming, costly bureaucracy.



Thursday 17 March 2010
7pm-9pm

Augustine Hall
Augustine House
Canterbury Christ Church University
CT1 2YA

Refreshments provided

No need to book. Everybody welcome.

This event is part of the Economic and Social Research Council Festival of Social Science and the Making Politics Matter initiative at Canterbury Christ Church University