LSE International Inequalities Institute announces collaboration with the United Nations ECLAC, and new AI research theme
The London School of Economics and Political Science’s International Inequalities Institute (III) announces a new Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) to collaborate research and knowledge exchange on issues relevant to social development, inequality, income distribution, growth and other areas of sustainable development. The first project to be undertaken under this new initiative will explore the impact of AI on both the quantity and quality of jobs in Latin America.
The III also announces the launch of a new research theme on AI and labour market inequalities. The programme will be co-led by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, Regius Professor of Economics at the LSE’s Department of Economics and Professor Kirsten Sehnbruch, Distinguished Policy Fellow at the III and Deputy Director for Impact and Engagement. Building on the Pissarides Review into the Future of Work and the Institute’s wider expertise in inequality, the research theme will generate new evidence on how AI is affecting labour markets, tax revenues, public services and specific groups of workers, including young people, NEETS, women, older workers and people with lower levels of education
Sir Christopher Pissarides, Regius Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics, said:
“AI is the 21st century’s transformative technology and if we get it right it can improve prosperity and wellbeing for everyone, leaving no one behind.”
Kirsten Sehnbruch, Distinguished Policy Fellow and Deputy Director for Impact and Engagement at the III, said:
“The implementation of AI-driven technologies requires rethinking how we approach labour markets. Increasingly, we will have to consider not only how many workers have a job, but also whether their jobs allow them to lead flourishing lives.”
Link to follow
These announcements have been made as part of the London School of Economics and Political Science’s 2026 Global Forum for AI and the Social Sciences. To build momentum and unlock new forms of coordinated and collective action, selected organisations from around the world have been invited to use the Global Forum as a platform for releasing work, launching new initiatives, or making commitments related to the Forum's annual focus.
Statement from the III on the AI and Labour Market Inequalities research theme
Labour market inequality is already a defining challenge of the twenty-first century. But nobody can say with confidence how AI will reshape work. Governments and policymakers are therefore being asked to make critical decisions in the face of significant uncertainty, limited real-time data, competing economic interests and differing expert opinions. As a result, there is currently insufficient capacity to understand how AI is affecting workers, sectors and communities as these changes unfold.
Building on the Pissarides Review into the Future of Work, led by the LSE’s Nobel prize-winning economist Sir Christopher Pissarides, and the Institute’s wider expertise in inequality, labour markets and public policy, the AI and Labour Markets programme will address critical gaps in data and understanding. The progamme will generate new evidence on how AI is affecting labour markets, tax revenues, public services and specific groups of workers, including young people, NEETS, women, older workers and people with lower levels of education. The III has been at the forefront of developing the metrics, datasets and analytical frameworks that underpin contemporary understanding of poverty, social mobility, wealth distribution and labour markets.
The Institute has a distinctive multidisciplinary approach, and brings together expertise from across the social sciences to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The Institute also distinguishes itself by combining world-leading research with an exceptional ability to influence policy and practice globally through its network of contacts with governments and international organisations as well as its inbuilt programme of practitioner training. The III serves as a trusted and independent source of evidence on data and methodological questions, helping policymakers, practitioners and international organisations navigate complex and often contested issues.
About the III
The International Inequalities Institute at LSE brings together experts from many of the School's departments and centres to lead cutting-edge research focused on understanding why inequalities are escalating in numerous arenas across the world, and to develop critical tools to address these challenges.
About the Global Forum for AI and the Social Sciences
The Global Forum for AI and the Social Sciences is an annual flagship event bringing together leaders across government, industry, academia, and civil society from around the world. Organised by the LSE Data Science Institute, the Global Forum aims to convene international dialogue at the intersection of AI and the social sciences and to mobilise expertise, resources, and partnerships to ensure AI serves human and societal needs.
The inaugural edition of the Global Forum will take place on 16 and 17 September 2026 with a thematic focus on how AI is reshaping work and what governments, firms, and workers must do to prepare for the changes ahead.