A University of Liverpool conference offering multi-disciplinary perspectives on the defining political and cultural post-financial crisis themes of economy and austerity takes place on Friday.
Co-organised by Dr Claes Belfrage, from the University’s Management School and Dr Paul Jones, from the University’s Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology, Perspectives on Economy and Austerity offers a packed schedule of talks from academics with backgrounds in fields as diverse as law, archaeology, politics and geography.
The day is opened by Lancaster University sociologist, Professor Imogen Taylor, who leads with a discussion around the rise of ‘anti-welfare common sense’, before the schedule is split into three distinct sections.
The morning session examines austerity from a historical perspective. Dr Zosia Archibald and Dr John Davis, from the University of Liverpool’s School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, consider morality, gender and austerity in antiquity, before Dr Peter North discusses Liverpool’s historical relationship with austerity.
The first afternoon session looks at how austerity feeds regulation and considers its impact on law, planning and at a European political level. Dr Claes Belfrage offers insight into Iceland’s response to financial crisis, and what differentiates it from the path embarked upon by the UK.
In between the first two sessions, and after lunch, guest speaker Dr Cedric Durand, from the University of Paris – XIII, will deliver a keynote talk on ‘Austerity and the Disintegration of Europe’.
The final session considers the policies of austerity, and how it impacts perceptions of immigration, class, gender and poverty. It includes speakers Dr Alex Balch, co-director of the University’s Centre for the Study of International Slavery; Drs Paul Jones and Michael Mair on supermarket growth and the spatial effects of austerity and the Management School’s Dr Sara Nadin, whose talk analyses enterprise culture and class based experiences of work.
Dr Claes Belfrage said: “Austerity is a policy regime of redistribution from poorer to richer, reducing demand and hence growth. The method of sparking growth, ultra-loose monetary policy, has reinforced that redistribution.”
Dr Paul Jones said: “What is referred to as ‘austerity’ is a series of political decisions about resources, which have had a devastating impact on many already-poor communities; these choices could be different. Our event sets out to interrogate what is in danger of becoming a new ‘common sense’ associated with austerity politics and policy.”
Perspectives on Economy and Austerity is free and all are welcome to attend. It takes place at the Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, Liverpool from 9am – 5pm on Friday 4 December. Lunch is provided. For more information, and to register your place, please visit: http://www.liv.ac.uk/law/events/event/73506
