Can the economic left deliver? UWE Bristol professor and experts put Labour’s big ideas under the spotlight

The annual Festival of Economics returns to Bristol (13-20 November), bringing together a programme of workshops, lectures and panel discussions exploring some of today’s most pressing economic issues.

This year’s festival explores a ‘Brave New World’, with leading economists, policymakers and thought leaders delivering insightful debates explaining exactly what’s going on to people whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by a tumultuous economy since the late 2000s.

Festival team member Jo Michell, Professor of Economics at UWE Bristol, working with other economic experts from the University of Bristol, the University of Bath, and Bristol Research in Economics, have organised The New Economics of the Left event at the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, on 18 November.

The panel will explore how a social democratic government under new leadership could go further on economic policy, despite the constraints imposed by high interest rates and public debt. The panel brings together leading commentators to discuss whether an economic strategy of the left is feasible, the barriers to implementing such a strategy, and the likely economic consequences - for growth, living standards and inequality - of the choices the government has made and those it has yet to face.

Speakers include:

• Adrienne Buller - Founding Editor of The BREAK—DOWN, a media initiative focused on the political economy of the climate and ecological crisis. She is co-author of Owning the Future and author of The Value of a Whale, winner of the 2024 Eric Zencey Prize in Ecological Economics.
• David Klemperer - Co-editor of RENEWAL: A Journal of Social Democracy and a researcher at the University of Bath’s Institute for Policy Research, specialising in political economy, social democracy and constitutional reform.
• James Meadway - Director of progressive think tank Verdant Thinking and a former political adviser to Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Chief Economist at the New Economics Foundation.
• Duncan Weldon - British economist, journalist and author specialising in macroeconomics and economic history.

Jo Michell, Professor of Economics at UWE Bristol, said: “Bristol's Festival of Economics is a unique event which brings together experts, policymakers and the public for discussion of crucial contemporary issues including artificial intelligence and jobs, the UK's economic strategy, Brexit, trade and more.”

Sarah Smith, Professor of Economics at the University of Bristol and co-director of the Festival of Economics, added: “The issues we are talking about at this year’s festival could not be more important. What will AI mean for degrees and jobs? What does a sensible immigration policy look like? What are the implications of an ageing society, in the UK and globally? With a new Labour prime minister, what are some of the big ideas on the left? Can Andy Burnham-style devolution help to reverse decades of regional decline?

“We want the Festival of Economics to break down any barriers between expert economists and members of the public. Economists don’t have the best reputation for speaking clearly, but our expert speakers are all brilliant communicators – and audience members will be encouraged to feed directly into the discussion in our live interactive Q&A.”

More information can be found on the Festival of Economics website.