Leading thinkers from the worlds of economics, politics and the social sciences will gather at the University of Aberdeen this weekend (November 17-19) for a conference focusing on the major economic issues of the 21st century.
Organised by the student-led Aberdeen Political Economy Group (APEG), and supported by the Rethinking Economics Network and the Royal Economic Society, the ‘Shifting Paradigms’ conference is one of the biggest of its type to take place at the University in recent years.
Among the key speakers are internationally renowned economists Victoria Chick and Sheila Dow, author and financial campaigner Brett Scott, and Maggie Chapman, co-convener of the Scottish Green Party.
The conference will cover a range of topics, from global finance and environmental economics, to automation and the growing role of artificial intelligence.
The programme includes presentations from Victoria Chick on the global financial system in the post-crash era, and economist and editor Laurie MacFarlane on the economics of the housing crisis.
In addition, Dr Peter Loovers from the University of Aberdeen will present on the future of the oil and gas industry.
Regina Kolbe, APEG President, said: “We are hugely excited to be hosting this conference, which brings together leading experts to discuss the major economic challenges facing the world today.
“With Shifting Paradigms, we aim to create a range of diverse voices that we hope will educate and inform our audiences, and inspire the development of new ideas and intellectual alliances.
“We would like to extend a warm invitation to all like-minded individuals and organisations to join us in making our conference a successful and inspirational event.”
Professor Keith Bender, Chair in Economics at the University of Aberdeen, is among those from the University attending the conference.
He said: “I’d like to congratulate APEG for their hard work and dedication in putting together this ambitious interdisciplinary conference, which is one of the biggest of its type to take place at the University for a number of years.
“The group have done an amazing job in attracting a broad range of high-profile experts from the UK and beyond to share their insights with us, and we look forward to welcoming them to Aberdeen next weekend.”