Events

Born to rule: the making and remaking of the British elite

Hosted by LSE Department of Sociology and the International Inequalities Institute

Thursday 3 October 2024, 6.30pm to 8.00pm. In-person and online event. Sheikh Zayed Theatre, Cheng Kin Ku Building.

Speaker:
Professor Sam Friedman, Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, LSE
Hashi Mohamed, Barrister, Landmark Chambers
Professor Aaron Reeves, Professor of Sociology, LSE Department of Sociology
Professor Lauren Rivera, Peter G. Peterson Chair of Corporate Ethics, Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management
Dr Faiza Shaheen, Economist, Writer and Commentator

Chair:
Professor Suzanne Hall, Professor of Sociology and Head of Department, LSE Department of Sociology

Think of the British elite and familiar caricatures spring to mind. But are today’s power brokers a conservative chumocracy, born to privilege and anointed at Eton and Oxford? Or is a new progressive elite emerging with different values and political instincts? Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman combed through a trove of data in search of an answer, scrutinizing the profiles, interests, and careers of over 125,000 members of the British elite from the late 1890s to today. At the heart of this meticulously researched study is the historical database of Who’s Who, but the authors also mined genealogical records, examined probate data, and interviewed over 200 leading figures from a wide range of backgrounds and professions to uncover who runs Britain, how they think, and what they want.

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Richer and more equal: a new history of wealth in the west

Hosted by the International Inequalities Institute

Wednesday 16 October 2024, 12.30pm to 1.30pm. In-person and online event. Yangtze Theatre, LSE Centre Building.

Speaker:
Professor Daniel Waldenström, Professor of Economics, Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN Stockholm)

Chair:
Professor Francisco H G Ferreira, Amartya Sen Professor of Inequality Studies and Director of LSE International Inequalities Institute

Daniel Waldenström shows that what stands out since the late 1800s is a massive rise in the size of the middle class and its share of society’s total wealth. Unfettered capitalism, it seems, doesn’t have to lead to boundless inequality. The key to progress was political and institutional change that enabled citizens to become educated, better paid, and to amass wealth through housing and pension savings. Waldenström asks how we can consolidate these gains while encouraging the creation of new capital. The answer, he argues, is to pursue tax and social policies that raise the wealth of people in the bottom and middle rather than cutting wealth of entrepreneurs at the top.

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The case for a four-day week

Hosted by the International Inequalities Institute

Wednesday 23 October 2024, 6:30pm – 8:00pm. In-person and online event. Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House. 

Speakers:
Joe Ryle, Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign
Fran Heathcote, General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Professor Kirsten Sehnbruch, British Academy Global Professor and Distinguished Policy Fellow, LSE III

Chair:
Dr Tania Burchardt, Associate Director of the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE), Deputy Director of STICERD, and Associate Professor in the Department of Social Policy, LSE

Rising numbers of employers worldwide are switching to a four-day week, making workers happier and organisations stronger. A four-day week with no loss of pay gives workers the time to live happier and more fulfilled lives, allowing for the parts of life that are often neglected, such as rest, parenting and leisure. It has significant benefits for businesses, as real-world examples show that employers who move to a four-day week improve productivity and cut costs. Research also shows that introducing a 4 day week could reduce the UK's carbon footprint by 127 million tonnes per year. This event will discuss how businesses, charities, and councils can reap the benefits of introducing smarter working. Our panel will present the academic evidence for the benefits of introducing a four-day week, and discuss practical ways to make the change.

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The most unequal region in the world: combatting inequality in Latin America

Hosted by the International Inequalities Institute

Tuesday 29 October 2024, 6:30pm – 8:00pm. In-person and online event. Sheikh Zayed Theatre, Cheng Kin Ku Building. 

Speakers:
Dr Valentina Contreras, Research Officer, LSE III
Professor Julián Messina, Professor, Universidad de Alicante
Dr Sebastián Nieto Parra, Head of Latin America and the Caribbean, OECD Development Centre
Professor Andrés Velasco, Professor of Public Policy and Dean of the School of Public Policy, LSE 

Chair:
Professor Francisco H. G. Ferreira, Amartya Sen Professor of Inequality Studies and Director, LSE III

Latin America is exceptionally unequal, with data widely suggesting it is one of the world’s two most unequal regions. Inequality has persisted at exceptionally high levels despite clear social pressures for its reduction and the widely shared conviction that excessive inequality is detrimental to economic progress. The Latin America and Caribbean Review (LACIR), committed to addressing these challenges, convenes high-level scholars to provide a coherent and comprehensive overview of the inequality problem in Latin America. This public event will present the scale of the problem of inequality in Latin America and point to some of the possible ways out of this ‘inequality trap’. Bringing together scholars and policymakers, the event will explore solutions and strategies to combat inequality in the region.

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Fragments of home: refugee housing, humanitarian design and the politics of shelter

Hosted by the Department of Geography and Environment and the International Inequalities Institute

Tuesday 19 November 2024, 6:30pm – 8:00pm. In-person and online event. Auditorium, Centre Building. 

Speakers:
Dr Tom Scott-Smith, Director of the Refugee Studies Centre and Associate Professor of Forced Migration, University of Oxford
Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council
Dr Myfanwy James, Assistant Professor in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies, LSE

Chair:
Professor Neil Lee, Professor of Economic Geography, LSE

The story of international migration is often told through personal odysseys and dangerous journeys, but when people arrive at their destinations a more mundane task begins: refugees need a place to stay. In this talk, Tom Scott-Smith draws on his new book to discuss how humanitarians, architects, and government authorities have sought to provide shelter to refugees. Drawing on detailed ethnographic research into these shelters, he will reflect on their political implications and open up much bigger questions about humanitarian action. The event will explore how the principle of autonomy can offer a fruitful approach to sensitive and inclusive shelter for refugees.

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Feeding the machine: the hidden human labour powering AI

Hosted by the Data Science Institute and the International Inequalities Institute

Wednesday 4 December 2024, 6:30pm – 8:00pm. In-person and online event. Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House. 

Speakers:
Professor Mark Graham, Director of Fairwork and Professor at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
Dr James Muldoon, Reader in Management at the University of Essex, Research Associate at the University of Oxford and Head of Digital Research at the Autonomy think tank
Professor Kirsten Sehnbruch, British Academy Global Professor and Distinguished Policy Fellow, International Inequalities Institute, LSE

Conversations around AI tend to focus on the future dangers, but what about the damage AI is inflicting on people right now? AI promises to transform everything, from work to transport to war, and to solve our problems with total ease. But hidden beneath this smooth surface lies the grim reality of a precarious global workforce of millions that labour under often appalling conditions to make AI possible. Feeding the Machine presents an urgent investigation of the intricate network of organisations that maintain this exploitative system, revealing the untold truth of AI. Authors Mark Graham and James Muldoon will be joined by Kirsten Sehnbruch to discuss the impact of AI on global inequalities, and what we need to do, individually and collectively, to fight for a more just digital future.

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