The Bank of England’s chief economist and one of its former deputy governors are among speakers at this year’s Festival of Economics in Bristol.
One of the largest events of its kind in the UK, the festival takes place in between next Wednesday, November 7 and Saturday November 10.
The festival, led by Bristol Cultural Development Partnership as part of its year-round Festival of Ideas, is now in its seventh year and is expected to draw more than 5,000 people with its broad and inclusive agenda of talks and discussion.
Triodos Bank, Europe’s leading sustainable bank which has its UK headquarters in Bristol, is headline sponsor for the first time and will be promoting messages around sustainable finance, ensuring that lessons are being learnt by the financial industry 10 years on from the economic crash.
The bank’s chief economist Kees Vendrik will speak as part of a panel event: Does Economics Care About the Future? on Thursday at 8pm.
The festival, which has been programmed by Prof Diane Coyle of University of Cambridge and think tank Enlightenment Economics, includes:
- An opening event on Wednesday from 6.30pm with Paul Tucker, previously a deputy governor at the Bank of England
- Linda Yueh economist, broadcaster, and author of The Great Economists on Thursday at 12.30pm
- CBI chief economist Rain Newton-Smith on Thursday at 6.30pm
- Chief economist at the Bank of England, Andy Haldane, discussing central banks past, present and future on Friday at 6.30pm
- Sessions featuring leading commentators and academics on higher education policy, planning for long-term sustainable growth, sustainable transport and the economic gender gap.
All events take place in We the Curious (formerly At-Bristol), apart from some side events at Waterstones.
Triodos Bank UK managing director Bevis Watts said: “We support the Festival of Economics to foster further debate about our economic future. Now is the time to promote more alternative thinking around our economic and financial system.
“We can no longer measure success purely in terms of growth when our resources are finite – and we can work harder to create a global economy that works better for people and planet.”
The festival offers some events free of charge and accessible pricing elsewhere. It includes a day for schools to debate economics issues with free entry, travel grants, and free attendance at the wider festival events. It also includes an annual schools competition on Friday when more than 200 students compete against each other on solutions to pressing economic and societal problems.
Festival of Ideas director Andrew Kelly said: “Each year, experts from around the world debate with each other – and their audiences – some of the key economic questions of our time. We’re honoured this year to have over 30 speakers looking at issues as wide ranging as economic growth after Brexit, affordable and sustainable transport, women in the economy and the power of central banks.
“We’re delighted this festival is now associated with Triodos Bank. We have aspirations to make the festival bigger and reach new audiences, and the bank’s support will help us achieve this.”
Tickets are now on sale. Season ticket: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bristol-festival-of-economics-2018-season-ticket-tickets-48646386652
Tickets for individual events also available: http://www.ideasfestival.co.uk/whats-on/themes/economics/
Pictured: A debate at last year’s Festival of Economics. Photo by Bhagesh Sachania Photography
