The Economics and Politics of Covid Debt

economics politics covid debt

How to handle the sovereign debt accumulated during the Covid-19 pandemic is both an economic and a political issue.

In this event we will examine both the politics and the economics of the growing sovereign debt:

  • Are debt levels a significant problem for a country with a sovereign reserve currency and its own central bank?
  • Are maintaining government support and investing for growth greater priorities than worrying about debt levels?
  • Should inflation tick up, does fiscal policy offer a better response than increased interest rates?
  • What are the politics of bringing down debt through higher taxes or lower government spending vs investing for growth to meet the promised leveling up agenda?
  • How does the Conservative government/party balance its image for ‘fiscal responsibility’ with delivering on its political promises?
Panelists
  • Panelist

    Prof John Kay

    John Kay is one of Britain’s leading economists. He is a distinguished academic, a successful businessman, an adviser to companies and governments around the world, and an acclaimed columnist. His interests encompass both business strategy and public policy. He is a Fellow at RADIX. He began his academic career when he was elected a fellow of St John’s College, Oxford at the age of 21, a position which he still holds. As research director and director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies he established it as one of Britain’s most respected think tanks. Since then he has been a professor at the London Business School and the University of Oxford, and is currently a visiting Professor at the London School of Economics. He was the first director of Oxford University’s Said Business School.

  • Panelist

    Prof Paola Subacchi

    Paola Subacchi is Professor of International Economics at the Queen Mary University of London, Chair of the Global Policy Institute, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Bologna, and a non-executive director of SMT PLC and of BRGE PLC.. Her work focuses on the functioning and governance of the international and monetary system. Her latest books include "The Cost of Free Money. How Unfettered Capital Threaten Our Economic Future," and "The People’s Money. How China is building a global currency." She studied at Università Bocconi in Milan and at the University of Oxford.

  • Panelist

    Prof Tim Bale

    Tim Bale is professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London and co-director of the Mile End Institute. He is a Fellow at RADIX. His book "The Conservative Party from Thatcher to Cameron" was awarded the WJM Mackenzie prize. Other books include "The Conservatives since 1945: the Drivers of Party Change;" "Five Year Mission. The Labour Party under Ed Miliband;" and "Footsoldiers: Political Party Membership in the 21st Century" co-authored with Paul Webb and Monica Poletti. The 4th edition of his textbook on European Politics was published in 2017. Tim also runs an ESRC-funded project on UK party membership in the twenty-first century: http://esrcpartymembersproject.org.

  • Moderator

    Geoff Crocker

    Geoff Crocker works in advocacy and research on concepts of basic income and sovereign money as the foundations of a new economic paradigm. He is a Fellow at RADIX. He is the Editor of ‘The Case for Basic Income’ and the author of "Basic Income and Sovereign Money" He graduated in economics from Durham University and subsequently worked for a range of blue-chip companies and clients in industry strategy for over 25 years. He is also currently the Chair of Bristol Care Homes Ltd and, formerly, of SUEK AG, a large coal and powergen company in Russia. He is the author of the International Energy Agency 2008 report on the implementation of clean coal technologies in the Russian coal industry.

Where

Online Event

When

Wednesday 24th February 2021, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Additional Details

NOTE: THE TIME QUOTED IS UK TIME

Pre-registration is required to join the event.

To register for this event click this link or the RSVP button

After registering, you will receive an email confirming your registration and containing information about joining the meeting

Follow Us