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Theme: Economy and Equality

From social mobility to the welfare state, corporate social responsibility to the future of banking, the Festival introduces an impressive range of speakers and events examining the economy and equality. 

What's on

Fri
17
Jun

Britain and Class: ‘We’re All in it Together’

Is the British class system dead or just morphing into something more complex? Who are the new winners and losers?

Fri
17
Jun

How to Thrive in the Next Economy: Designing Tomorrow’s World Today

Experts discuss what is needed to thrive in a new economy and to grow businesses.

Fri
17
Jun

From Cradle to Graduation: Children and Economic Inclusion

We examine the key factors required to promote financial security for children and their parents. Sir Julian Le Grand of the London School of Economics will deliver a keynote speech, which will be followed by a debate.

Fri
17
Jun

The Future of Banking

Join our expert speakers as they explore the culture of investment banks. Has there been enough reform to avoid another global financial crash?

Fri
17
Jun

"Time Makes Ancient Good Uncouth" (Joseph Rowntree)

We live in a time when questions have re-emerged about philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, as well as a debate about how we can achieve a fair, equal and compassionate society. What can we learn from the life and work of the Rowntree family? How are their ideals still relevant to us today? This mixed media immersive exhibition looks at the ways in which generations of Rowntrees have helped shape our views.

Fri
17
Jun

The Politics of Hope

Guardian columnist Owen Jones will deliver a keynote address, before joining a panel discussion exploring the changing political economic landscape.

Wed
15
Jun

The Future of the Welfare State

Join the York Union for a debate on the future of the Welfare State. Together, state-funded social security, education and healthcare provide the foundations for the welfare state. But the question is: how long does it have left in its current condition, and what is it likely to look like in the future?

Wed
15
Jun

Social Mobility: The Complex Origins of a Difficult Idea

Social mobility is a major preoccupation in modern British politics. Yet researchers have worried about social mobility’s downsides ever since they started studying it 70 years ago. Join Chris Renwick as he revisits those concerns, including visions of a trampled underclass rebelling against their meritocratic rulers, and asks what lessons the past has for contemporary social and political reformers.

Thu
9
Jun

Human Rights and Social Justice

Lady Brenda Hale, Deputy President of the Supreme Court, explores the extent to which human rights as we know them can also encompass socio-economic rights. Join her as she discusses recent high-profile Supreme Court decisions relating to denial of asylum, benefit caps and the so-called ‘bedroom tax’.

Festival themes