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Economics and Finance

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Public talks

Yes, there is an alternative

Author and journalist George Monbiot in conversation with author Jeremy Lent on what a life-enhancing future could look like.
17 Jun 2026 RSA House and YouTube
Modern building with many plants and trees growing on its balconies and rooftops, integrating greenery with architecture against a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Lead Feature

A common wealth?

As younger generations start to inherit trillions from Baby Boomers, banker and author Ken Costa explores the risks and opportunities of this historic wealth handover.
23 Sep 2025 Ken Costa
Illustration of people picking apples from a large tree with orange-yellow leaves. Two people sit in a treehouse, while others gather apples in baskets below. The background is pink, creating a bright, cheerful scene.
Online

How much does Britain cost?

Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, follows the £1 trillion it now costs to run the UK economy, exploring where the money comes from, how it’s spent and what reforms might be needed to prepare for future challenges.
23 Feb 2023
The image shows the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in London under a partly cloudy sky. Sunlight filters through green leaves at the top, and a person is walking by in the foreground, appearing blurred.
Online

Inside stories of 21st–century diplomacy

Diplomacy often takes place behind closed doors, but what does this vital role really look like in today’s world? Baroness Catherine Ashton reflects on her time as the EU’s first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
26 Jan 2023
A group of international flags, including those of the European Union, Spain, Greece, Germany, and others, waving on flagpoles against a partly cloudy sky.
Online

How our social connections impact our economic mobility

Harvard economist Professor Raj Chetty and Lucy Makinson, Behavioural Insights Team discuss how connectivity, social cohesion and civic engagement can play a role in shaping income equality and economic opportunity.
23 Nov 2022
Three people stand outside in a sunny urban setting. Two men and a woman share a friendly moment, smiling and talking. The woman holds a coffee cup. They are casually dressed, and a cityscape is visible in the background.
Online

Cash, cards, crypto: inside the war for our wallets

Campaigner and monetary anthropologist Brett Scott explores the realities of a cashless society – how it works, who stands to gain, who will get left behind and what this future means for data privacy.
14 Jul 2022
A woman wearing glasses and a leather jacket stands at an ATM, holding a bank card and a wallet.
Online

The story of disorder

How should we understand the turbulent age we’re living through? Professor Helen Thompson examines the geopolitical, domestic, and economic histories of the current moment, and what we can learn from the challenges of today.
03 Mar 2022
Black and white photo of a city skyline featuring prominent skyscrapers under dramatic, dark clouds. The shard-shaped building stands out against the ominous sky, creating a striking urban scene.
Online

What is economics – and what should it be?

How must economics adapt to meet the challenges of today – and tomorrow? Professor Diane Coyle lays out a vision for economics fit for the twenty-first century and digital economy.
03 Feb 2022
A group of four people in a meeting room discussing a projected graph on the wall. One person stands by the projection, presenting, while the others sit around a table with laptops and notes. They appear to be engaged in a discussion.
Online

The cost of living precariously

What could help those worst hit in economically difficult times? As the cost of living crisis tightens its grip on the nation, a panel discusses the mounting pressures on financially insecure young people.
24 Feb 2022
A person with curly hair using an ATM. They are wearing a black leather jacket and holding a pink card while interacting with the machine's touchscreen interface. The scene is outdoors.
Blog

Our social insecurity system

How can we regenerate our social security system to remove insecurity and ensure everyone is receiving the support they need to survive?
15 Nov 2022 Hannah Webster
A woman sits at a wooden table, working on a laptop, while holding a toddler on her lap. The woman looks focused on the screen. A window offers natural light, and there is a basket and a baby bottle on the table.