Theme: Economy and Equality

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?

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.

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.

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?

"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.

The Politics of Hope

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

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?

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.

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’.