Events on Social Policy

Handling The Pinch: how the UK should deal with its generational challenge

Monday 6th September, 2010

Ideas Space

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A flagship speech by Chris Huhne MP on immigration

Tuesday 16th March, 2010

Ideas Space

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Anti-Semitism in England: Anthony Julius in Conversation with Charles Moore

Tuesday 9th March, 2010

Ideas Space

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Controlling Migration: How can we achieve the right level of immigration in the UK?

Monday 1st March, 2010

The Ideas Space

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Should the state support marriage through the tax / benefit system? And if so, how?

Thursday 4th February, 2010

The Ideas Space

The debate about whether the state should support marriage raises many important philosophical and economic issues. What is fair? How do people respond to the economic incentives the tax and benefit system presents them with? Under what conditions are children mostly likely to thrive?

Tickets to this event are restricted - to apply for a place, please email events@policyexchange.org.uk  

Paul Romer on Charter Cities

Monday 1st February, 2010

Ideas Space

Paul Romer is a leader in the world of economics, whose academic work has transformed the study of economic growth. He recently came to Policy Exchange on February 1, 2010, to discuss his new project, Charter Cities.

Paul spoke about his pioneering idea that city-sized areas can be created in developing countries so that their citizens can experiment with better rules. An example would be the experience of Hong King in China. He stated that by setting examples in these areas, better rules and new ideas can spread more quickly. Paul argued that large-scale migration is no longer possible. Hundreds of millions of people cannot move to places with better rules and laws. Instead they can move to Charter Cities. According to him, this movement can create pressure that will speed up greater change from within developing countries. Questions posed to him focused around how plausible the concept was, and various issues that may arise if implemented.

Delivering a 21st Century Infrastructure for Britain

Tuesday 15th September, 2009

Ideas Space

Policy Exchange is delighted to hold a discussion on the scale of the infrastructure challenge facing Britain and how to finance it.

If you would like to come to this event, please email events@policyexchange.org.uk, otherwise we cannot guarantee you will be able to attend.

Theresa May MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Thursday 27th August, 2009

Ideas Space

Policy Exchange is delighted to announce that Theresa May MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, will be making keynote speech on the issue of welfare reform.

Beyond"Command and Control": why we should abolish all targets in the public sector

Tuesday 4th August, 2009

Ideas Space

With John Seddon, Author of Systems Thinking in Public Sector .

John Seddon is the leading critic of bureaucratic, target-based management. Described by the Telegraph as a “reluctant management consultant”, he is a critic of command and control thinking. A psychologist by background, John argues for real management, with responsibility and discretion replacing targets for activity. He argues that we must think instead about the design of systems so that demand caused by failure is avoided in the first place, rather than trying to squeeze our costs later in the process.

In his most recent book, “Systems Thinking in the Public Sector” he argues that the current “reform agenda” in public services is a failure, and is causing waste. He argues that crude target-based management means demoralised staff, and is the opposite of real leadership. He argues that thinking carefully about whole systems and the fundamental value of services is the real way to do more with less.

Families in Britain: the impact of changing family structures - and what the public think

Tuesday 21st April, 2009

Foundling Museum

Policy Exchange and Ipsos MORI host a drink reception launch of Families in Britain.