Exploring Inequality and its Consequences: Education, Labour Markets, and Communities

Inequalities of income and wealth have been growing in many countries during the last two decades. In the UK household incomes are more unequal now than at any time since 1961, and social mobility, on some measures, appears to have declined. The economic recession may have exacerbated these trends, as job loss and wage cuts affect some groups – and some regions – more than others. Unemployment, for instance, has risen fastest amongst young people, the least qualified, and those in low wage occupations. These trends may have detrimental consequences both for the economy and for social cohesion. As much of the research shows, highly unequal societies tend to have higher rates of crime, poorer public health, and lower levels of social cohesion.

This two-day conference will explore the international trends in inequalities and what we know about their social and economic impacts on communities and society as a whole. A particular focus will be on the gaps between regions and age groups and how, if at all, education and training can mitigate these. The conference is organised by the ESRC-funded Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies (LLAKES). The aim is to bring together leading researchers in the field to share their latest research findings with policy-makers.

The invitation only conference brings together over 70 delegates from the UK and abroad and takes the form of an extended seminar, with a mixture of plenary and smaller group sessions. The conference till take place at Birkbeck College.

Presentations will include the latest findings from LLAKES research projects as well as key-note presentations from external speakers including:

Professor Martin Carnoy, Vida Jacks Professor of Education, Stanford University

Professor Danny Dorling, Professor of Human Geography, University of Sheffield

Professor John Hills, Professor of Social Policy, Director of the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE),

London School of Economics and Political Science

Professor Roger Jowell, Researcher Professor, City University

Professor Sylvia Walby OBE, UNESCO Chair in Gender Research and Professor of Sociology, University of Lancaster