LSE: Public lectures and events

Contributor(s): Professor Hilary Hoynes | Join us for the Department of Social Policy’s Annual Lecture at which Hilary Hoynes will explore the concept of viewing the social safety net as a long-term investment in children. Traditionally, economic research has emphasised the incentive effects of tax credits and transfer programs, often neglecting their potential benefits, particularly for children. Hoynes will review a growing body of evidence showing that childhood access to programs like food stamps, the EITC, and Medicaid leads to significant improvements in health, education, earnings, and reduced criminal justice involvement in adulthood. Using cost-benefit analyses like the Marginal Value of Public Funds (MVPF), Hoynes argues these programs often pay for themselves over time. She concludes that understanding these long-term benefits is crucial to shaping effective policy and reimagining the safety net as a strategic societal investment.

Contributor(s): Dr Lyn Ossome, Professor Shirin M Rai, Dr Gloria Novović | We are beset by existential planetary threats - from environmental emergencies and public heath crises to grotesque inequalities and wars. Can global feminist solidarity and a feminist theory of social reproduction provide an emancipatory agenda that will foster the material conditions that make the reproduction of human and non-human life possible?

Dr. Carl Benedikt Frey, an Oxford economist and author, explores the uneven nature of technological progress. He argues that success hinges on geography, culture, and institutions. Professor Michael Storper provides insights on the importance of matching institutional frameworks to innovation stages, while Jane Gingrich highlights the political implications of innovation-related inequality. The trio also discusses the transformative potential of AI, state capacity, and the need for new ideas, offering a rich analysis of how societies can foster or hinder progress.

Contributor(s): Professor Padmashree Gehl Sampath, Dr Laura Mann | In this lecture, Padmashree Gehl Sampath compares the trajectories of two critical technology-driven sectors, pharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence, to show how weak policy and regulatory oversight can lead to technology capture and reduce the public interest benefits from technological innovation. Gehl Sampath will propose ways to arrive at new common – regional and global - approaches to promote technology for the public interest.

Cass R. Sunstein, a Harvard law professor and bestselling author, passionately defends liberalism amidst modern challenges. He critiques misconceptions about liberalism while emphasizing core tenets like freedom, pluralism, and the rule of law. Sunstein explores the history of liberalism through political figures and highlights its importance as an evolving experiment rather than a fixed doctrine. He addresses the balance between freedom and order and discusses contemporary tensions within liberalism, advocating for respectful discourse and the value of 'nudges' in public policy.

Contributor(s): Dr Michael Aldous, Professor John Turner, Dr Judy Stephenson | The CEOs of Britain's largest companies wield immense power, but we know very little about them. How did they get to the top? Why do they have so much power? Are they really worth that exorbitant salary? In their book, The CEO: The Rise and Fall of Britain's Captains of Industry, which they will discuss at this event, Michael Aldous and John Turner provide the answers by telling the story of the British CEO over the past century. From gentleman amateurs to professional managers, entrepreneurs, frauds, and fat cats, they reveal the characters who have made it to the top of the corporate ladder, how they got there, and what their rise tells us about British society. They show how the quality of their leadership influences productivity, innovation, economic development and, ultimately, Britain's place in the world. More recently, issues have arisen regarding high CEO pay, poor performance, and a lack of professionalisation and diversity. Are there lessons from history for those who would seek to reform Britain's flagging corporate economy?

Contributor(s): Dr Dana H. Allin, Dr Anahita Motazed Rad, Dr Sanam Vakil | This event will examine how a second Trump administration might reshape U.S.-Iran relations and regional security—whether through renewed maximum pressure, diplomatic engagement, or military action to contain Iran’s nuclear and military ambitions. The Middle East that Donald Trump left in 2021 is vastly different from the one he re-enters in 2025. Since October 7, the region’s strategic landscape has shifted dramatically, leaving Iran at its weakest and most isolated position since 1979. Economic turmoil, internal dissent, and regional setbacks—amid mounting U.S. and Israeli pressure—have further exposed Tehran’s vulnerabilities.

Contributor(s): Professor Deirdre Nansen McCloskey | Join us in welcoming back to LSE, economist Deirdre Nansen McCloskey who will deliver this special lecture. Fear of the queer, says McCloskey, undermines our liberty every time, from the persecution of heretics and witches down to the demonization of Catholics, gays, immigrants, and trans people. The ideal of a liberal society has been 'Do anything you want, but don't spook the horses'. Don't damage people physically but otherwise feel free. It's a noble and uniquely modern ideal. No masters. As Richard Rumbolt declared from his scaffold at Edinburgh in 1685, ‘there was no man born marked of God above another, for none comes into the world with a saddle on his back, neither any booted and spurred to ride him'. Such an equality of permission is threatened worldwide-and now even in the first home of our liberties.

Contributor(s): Dr Cahal Moran | As the UK economy struggles along while the US seems destined for chaos, evaluating why we’re getting poorer has never seemed more relevant. Join us for this event at which LSE's Cahal Moran will talk about their new book, Why We’re Getting Poorer: A Realist’s Guide to the Economy and How We Can Fix it. Did you know that while we think of money as notes issued by the government, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of money today is credit created by private banks? Did you know that the reason housing keeps getting less accessible is because we haven’t found a way to separate houses from land in our policies? Cahal Moran delves into the key topics in economics showing that what we think we know about these things is wrong, and teaching us what we really need to know. Deciphering the jargon and complexity of economic thinking, with examples ranging from the Simpsons to the German football league to The Inbetweeners, Cahal shows us why our economy set us up to fail, and offers suggestions for how we can make positive changes.

Contributor(s): Dr Tarsis Brito, Dr Maya Goodfellow, Dr Luke de Noronha | We are joined by Maya Goodfellow, Tarsis Brito and Luke de Noronha who will each draw on their areas of expertise to discuss the implications of borders in a changing world. Borders are not just lines on a map marking geographical boundaries but are important for maintaining countries’ nationhood, identity, and security. Due to their importance, borders are also increasingly politicised to define who belongs and who does not, who is legally allowed to enter, and who has the right to own or live in a certain piece of land. Borders are connected to many of the debates of today and challenges of tomorrow, from the refugee crisis to decolonisation and global conflicts. So, how can we better understand how borders are connected to inequalities? Should we re-evaluate how we think about borders altogether? And what will the future of borders look like?