Middlesex University Business School Keynote speaker series
16th of February 4.30 -6pm in The Barn, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, London NW4 4BT
George Irvin will speak on the growth of inequality with particular reference to Britain. The fundamental argument is that inequality and poverty cannot be separated. The UK’s Gini Coefficient (the most common measure of income inequality) has been rising for some years and, under the austerity measures adopted by the current Government which has cut benefits and raised unemployment, inequality will rise further. The multiple social costs of inequality have been laid out most recently by Wilkinson & Pickett. Moreover, the government’s austerity measures are largely unnecessary. Remedies include: reversing regressive total fiscal incidence (ie, more progressive taxation) though uncapping NICs, introducing minimum tax bans and clamping down on personal and corporate tax avoidance. A Financial Transactions Tax is to be welcomed. Such measures would, moreover, generate sufficient revenue to finance a programme for growth, thus helping the public finances.
George Irvin is a Professorial Research Fellow in the Development Studies Department at the University of London, SOAS. At present he works on world trade and financial flows and the EU economies. He first worked at IDS Sussex, and then spent some years at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague where he became UHD Professor of Development Studies. He has consulted for numerous organisations and has worked in Africa, Latin America and Asia. His most recent books are: Irvin (2006) Regaining Europe: An Economic Agenda for the 21st Century, London: Federal Union; and Irvin (2008) Super-Rich: the growth of inequality in Britain and the United States, Cambridge: Polity. Besides publishing professionally, he writes regular op-ed columns for Social Europe Journal and The Guardian.co.uk CiF. For further information see www.george.irvin.com
To register attendance and for further details please contact Anne Daguerre ([log in to unmask])
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Martin Upchurch
Professor of International Employment Relations
Middlesex University Business School
The Burroughs
Hendon
London NW4 4BT
07545 487952
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