Common law: a better foundation for Liberalism

Contributor(s): Professor Rocco Macchiavello | Join Rocco Macchiavello in his inaugural lecture as he explores the economics of sustainable supply chains. Presenting insights from over a decade of research, Professor Macchiavello will examine how companies can organise supply chains that are sustainable and resilient, creating value for stakeholders beyond the organisation's boundaries. He will draw from rigorous, data-driven, research, illustrated through concrete case studies of large companies’ sourcing strategies in export-oriented agricultural commodities and manufacturing sectors.

Contributor(s): Professor John Hasnas | In conventional political philosophy, law is understood as consciously created rules that are a necessary mechanism for regulating the excesses of the free market. Although coercive in nature, law is seen as a necessary defence against anarchy. But is the situation that simple? In his examination of the purpose and functioning of the legal system, John Hasnas challenges this false dichotomy, presenting a new theory of liberalism that demonstrates that the common law can serve as an effective alternative to traditional politically created legislation.

Contributor(s): Janet Henry, Clare Lombardelli, Professor Almudena Sevilla | Despite decades of progress, women remain underrepresented in the field of economics. This event explores the gender disparities in the discipline and what this means for economics and society. Our speakers share research on women in economics, insights from their own experiences and advice for those wanting to make a career in economics. What challenges face women economists at different stages in their careers? What progress has been made? What changes are needed now?

Contributor(s): Professor Bishnupriya Gupta | In her latest book An Economic History of India: Growth, income and inequalities from the Mughals to the 21st century, Bishnupriya Gupta builds a new framework for understanding the economic impacts and legacies of British Rule, which she will discuss in this public event. Using concepts and theories from economics and economic history alongside extensive new data, she charts India's transition from precolonial economy to colonial rule and evaluates its economic performance from a comparative perspective, particularly in the context of the Great Divergence between Europe and Asia. She examines India's post-independence economy and the evolution of social and economic inequality through to the turn of the twenty-first century.

Contributor(s): Dr Nisrin Elamin | The ongoing war in Sudan has produced the world’s largest humanitarian and hunger crisis—devastating a country that could easily feed itself and its neighbours. As millions of Sudanese face starvation, global markets are also experiencing a surge in the value of key Sudanese commodities such as gold, gum Arabic and livestock that are smuggled out of the country to places like the UAE, Egypt and Kenya. This talk situates Sudan’s current famine within a broader historical context of neoliberal economic restructuring, US aid policies, foreign land investments and resource extractivism. It traces how this history is connected to the current dismantling of rural livelihoods and agricultural infrastructures and to the ongoing resource extraction facilitated by this war. Using food insecurity and hunger as a lens, the talk examines the role of foreign-particularly Gulf-actors in fuelling and sustaining the war.

Contributor(s): Dr Sophie Scott-Brown | Anarchism has had a more powerful impact on political life than most people realise. What are the roots of this radical tradition? How has it had this impact? And what is the contemporary case for embracing it?

Contributor(s): Professor Arun Advani, Emma Chamberlain, Dr Andy Summers | In 2020, the Wealth Tax Commission brought together world-leading academics, policymakers and tax practitioners to ‘think big’ about tax policy. Published in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the public finance crisis it triggered, the Commission examined the viability of both annual and one-off wealth taxes. Comprising over thirty papers and half a million words, it remains the most comprehensive body of evidence on wealth taxation globally. Five years on, the question of how governments can meet increasing public service demand, while confronting escalating geopolitical and environmental challenges, is more urgent than ever. At this event, the Commission’s authors reunite to reflect on its influence on research, policy making and public debate, and share what they learned from the process and the viability of a wealth tax in the UK today.

Contributor(s): Pablo Hernández de Cos | Sovereign debt levels have increased considerably since the Great Financial Crisis, reaching historical post-World War II highs in many advanced economies. This has been accompanied by a growing presence of non-bank financial institutions in sovereign bond markets. This combination generates new financial stability challenges, which have both domestic and international aspects. This lecture will discuss how policymakers should address these challenges by employing a carefully selected mix of tools that spans fiscal, monetary and prudential policy.

Contributor(s): Dr C Raja Mohan | America’s longstanding role as the guarantor of security in Europe and Asia is now under question at home. In this lecture, one of India’s leading strategic thinkers and commentators examines the roots of Donald Trump’s America First agenda and assesses its implications for the future of stability on the Eurasian landmass and its surrounding waters.

Contributor(s): Professor Christopher Freiman | urious about how free markets and social justice intersect? Join us for an engaging lecture by Christopher Freiman, author of the book Unequivocal Justice. Freiman offers a rethinking of the political theory of John Rawls and challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding liberal egalitarianism and free-market regimes. Freiman’s work highlights the importance of non-ideal theory, focusing on the real-world applications of political principles rather than abstract ideals. He argues that traditional Rawlsian liberalism does not consistently apply its idealising assumptions across its theory. By examining political liberty, economic sufficiency, fair opportunity, and social equality under realistic conditions, Freiman provides a fresh perspective on achieving justice in an imperfect world. This lecture is essential for anyone interested in the practical implications of political theory and the pursuit of social justice.