A Talk By Dr Eric Kemp- Benedict, the University of Leeds.

About the Talk 
How to make sense of the present moment? This talk presents one framing, drawing on the notion of the ‘Market Turn’ introduced by the Oxford economic historian Avner Offer. Beginning in the 1980s, the UK, together with the US and some other high-income countries, began to shift away from social democracy towards market liberalism – the Market Turn.

This talk argues that the Market Turn has undermined our capacity for collective action to address global challenges. Noting that justice and fairness are instrumental – and not only moral – necessities for mobilizing collective action, this presenter argues that some notions of justice are better suited than others. While market liberalism includes a concept of justice, it is individualistic rather than collective. What is more, market liberal policies have, over the past decades, erected structural barriers to addressing common challenges, whether within Yorkshire, at national level, or internationally. This has contributed to our failure to meet the climate challenge.

At present, market liberalism may itself be in decline. It is too early to tell where current trends will lead. But it is not too early to consider possibilities. Drawing on the recent writings of thoughtful commentators, this talk presents some sketches of possible futures, noting how our individual choices can influence how the future unfolds.

Short bio:
Dr.  Eric Kemp-Benedict is an Associate Professor of Ecological Economics at the University of Leeds. In addition to leading the Ecological Economics master’s program, he carries out research on long-run growth, decoupling, structural change, and economic development, all viewed through an ecological economics lens. Until the end of 2023, he worked at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), where he directed SEI’s Asia Centre from 2013 until 2016, and the SEI US Centre’s Equitable Transitions Program from 2018 to 2023.
 

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Café Économique is a voluntary organisation whose talks aim  to raise awareness and stimulate discussion for interested members of the public about current socio-economic and environmental topics and possible solutions/actions so that our economic system works for and benefits all in an equitable, democratic and transparent way. The Café runs monthly talks. on a Wednesday.  Please check out the website: 
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