The Fair Society series

Political philosopher Elizabeth Anderson argues that the 17th century concept of the Protestant work ethic has been perverted, and is now used to justify policies that promote the wealth and power of the richest in society, at workers’ expense. In her latest book, Hijacked: How neoliberalism turned the work ethic against the workers, Anderson says we should reclaim the original goals of the work ethic and better ensure that it promotes dignity for workers.This webinar looked at how ideas of a work ethic informed debates among the political economists of the past, and how these ideas can help us in thinking about inequality today. The event was part of our Fair Society series, in partnership with the Policy Institute at King’s College London.Speakers:Elizabeth Anderson, Professor of Public Philosophy; University of Michigan, and author of 'Hijacked'Sohrab Ahmari, Founder and editor, Compact magazine, and 'American Affairs' columnist, the New StatesmanBethan Staton, Deputy Editor, Work and Careers, Financial TimesStuart White, Nicholas Drake Tutorial Fellow in Politics, University of OxfordWill Snell, Chief Executive, the Fairness Foundation (Chair) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book, This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain, political economist and Observer columnist Will Hutton analyses how the left and right have gone wrong over the course of the last century. He believes the nation’s continuing inability to invest in itself is at the heart of our problems, which have their roots in a fixation on free markets and a minimal state.To ward off the wave of nihilist populism sweeping the world, we need an alternative economic and political philosophy, Hutton says. He argues that two great traditions, ethical socialism and progressive liberalism, can be brought together to offer a different way forward and help shape a better Britain. Through the reforming Liberal government of 1906-14 and, later, the 1945 Labour government that was influenced by Keynes and Beveridge, history has shown great things can be achieved when the two progressive strands fuse, he says. Now it’s time to do it again.The Policy Institute and the Fairness Foundation co-hosted an event in our Fair Society series to mark the publication of This Time No Mistakes.Speakers:Will Hutton, Observer columnist, President of the Academy of Social Sciences and author of This Time No MistakesProfessor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King’s College London (chair)Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, Barrister and broadcaster, was due to take part but had to pull out at the last minute in order to participate in the debate in the House of Lords on the Rwanda bill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all take notice when the poor become even poorer – when we witness more rough sleepers and longer food bank queues. However, when the rich amass greater wealth, it often goes unnoticed in public, and for most of us, our daily lives remain ostensibly unchanged. In her book Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth, philosopher and economist Ingrid Robeyns sheds light on the alarming extent of our wealth problem, which has quietly escalated over the past 50 years.From moral and political perspectives to economic, social, environmental, and psychological dimensions, she argues that extreme wealth is not only unjustifiable but is also detrimental to society as a whole, and proposes a radical solution - placing a hard limit on the wealth that any one person can accumulate. At this event, the Policy Institute and the Fairness Foundation hosted a discussion on 'limitarianism', Robeyns’ concept that challenges our current system by calling for a strict cap on wealth accumulation.Speakers:Professor Ingrid Robeyns, Chair in Ethics of Institutions, Utrecht University and author of Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme WealthLuke Hildyard, Director, High Pay Centre and author of Enough: Why It's Time to Abolish the Super-RichGraham Hobson, technologist and member of Patriotic Millionaires UKWill Snell, Chief Executive, Fairness Foundation (chair) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The super-rich have never had it so good – but millions can't afford a home, an education or a pension, argues former Treasury minister Liam Byrne MP in his new book, The Inequality of Wealth: Why it Matters and How to Fix it.He says that unless we change course soon, the future will be even worse. Much worse. But things don't have to be like this. In the book, Byrne explains why wealth inequality has grown so fast in recent years; warns how it threatens our society, economy and politics; shows where economics has got it wrong – and proposes five practical ways to rebuild an old ideal: the wealth-owning democracy.This event was part of our Fair Society series, in partnership with the Policy Institute at King’s College London.Speakers:The Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hodge Hill and author of The Inequality of WealthAnoosh Chakelian, Britain Editor, New StatesmanCarys Roberts, Executive Director, Institute for Public Policy ResearchProfessor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King’s College London (chair) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What factors drive political turmoil and societal breakdown? How do elites sustain their dominance, and why do ruling classes occasionally lose their hold on power? Peter Turchin, an expert in researching the origins of political instability, uncovers a recurring trend in his book End Times. When the scales of power heavily favour the ruling elite, it leads to a surge in income inequality, enriching the wealthy and impoverishing the less privileged. As more individuals aspire to join the elite, dissatisfaction with the established order intensifies, often resulting in calamity.The Policy Institute and the Fairness Foundation hosted a fascinating conversation about political upheaval, inequality, and the historical lessons we can glean. Are we truly living in "End Times," or can history provide a glimmer of optimism for breaking free from past cycles? Should we be more or less optimistic in the light of technological changes such as the advent of AI? And if the US is a plutocracy, to what extent is that also true of the UK?Speakers:Gerry Mitchell, Social policy researcher, writer, community activist and co-author of Uncomfortably Off: Why the Top 10% of Earners Should Care about InequalityWill Snell, Chief Executive, the Fairness Foundation (Chair)Mary Harrington, author and contributing editor at UnHerdPaul Summerville, Adjunct Professor, Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria and co-author of Reclaiming Populism: How Economic Fairness Can Win Back Disenchanted VotersPeter Turchin, Complexity Scientist, one of the founders of Cliodynamics and author of The Times thought book of the year, End Times: Elites, counter-elites and the path of political disintegration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In their influential and award-winning 2009 book The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone, Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson argue that societies with the biggest gaps between the rich and the rest are bad for everyone, including those who are most well off. They contend that everything from life expectancy, mental illness and obesity to violence and illiteracy is affected not so much by the wealth of a society as by its level of inequality, and propose solutions to move towards a future that is both fairer and happier.As part of our Fair Society series with the Policy Institute, we revisited The Spirit Level and its lasting impact on how we think about inequality.Speakers:Kate Pickett OBE, Professor of Epidemiology, University of York, and co-author of The Spirit LevelRichard Wilkinson, Professor Emeritus of Social Epidemiology, University of Nottingham, and co-author of The Spirit LevelDavid Aaronovitch, journalist, presenter and authorLucinda Platt, Professor of Social Policy and Sociology, London School of EconomicsPaul Drechsler CBE, Chair, International Chamber of Commerce UK and BusinessLDN, former President of the Confederation of British IndustryBobby Duffy, Director, the Policy Institute at King's College London (Chair) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do politicians from the Conservative and Labour parties think about what a fair society looks like? Are their differences intractable, or are there areas with as-yet unrealised potential for cross-party consensus? If we can find common ground between the fairness principles and priorities of those on the left and the right, what might this look like in terms of concrete policy solutions?In his new book, Free and Equal: What Would a Fair Society Look Like?, Daniel Chandler builds on the philosophy of John Rawls to argue for a society that protects free speech and transcends culture wars, limits the influence of money on politics, and builds a more just economy that operates within the limits of the planet.Daniel is joined by Anneliese Dodds MP, John Penrose MP and Ryan Shorthouse for a discussion chaired by Suzanne Hall from the Policy Institute at King's College London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful discussion, Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of England and climate finance envoy, shares his vision for a world built on human values rather than profit. He discusses the urgent need for transformative change to tackle inequalities, climate threats, and societal trust issues. Co-host Nick Macpherson guides the conversation into the complexities of economic policies and the vital role of humility in leadership. Together, they emphasize community commitment and the necessity of collective action for a fairer future.

In May 2023, the Fairness Foundation published National Wealth Surplus, a report on public attitudes to wealth, based on polling carried out by Opinium. The report launch webinar took place on 23 May 2023 and was chaired by Polly Toynbee (the Guardian), with contributions from Dr Lucy Barnes (University College London), Gary Stevenson (inequality economist and former city trader) and Will Snell (Fairness Foundation). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fairness Index was launched on 19 October 2022 with a webinar chaired by Will Hutton, and with presentations by Will Snell (Fairness Foundation), Ann Phoenix (University College London), Torsten Bell (Resolution Foundation) and Richard Wilkinson (University of Nottingham). Click the link in the description to see the slides and recording of the launch webinar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.