The city of Brighton will host the prestigious Royal Economic Society annual conference at the end of March, when local audiences will have the chance to hear experts discuss whether going to university is worth it, the future of policing, and how various different Brexit scenarios are likely to affect business, jobs and income – all completely free.

The three ‘RES Presents’ events will take place on 26, 27 and 28 March in venues across Brighton, including one at the University of Sussex, and are aimed at engaging higher education and school students as well as the general public in economic issues that will directly affect them and the communities they live in.

They offer the local community a chance to engage in an in-depth discussion, showing how the study of economics can help us gain insight into a range of other issues.

Professor Barry Reilly, Head of Economics at the University of Sussex, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome back the Royal Economic Society’s annual conference to the University and the city this year. We expect over 800 visitors to attend the conference during the week. 

"While there are lots of interesting research papers being presented to delegates, I’m really excited about the free events that students and the local Brighton community can take part in, and the contribution to these events by senior economists here at Sussex.

“With only a year until the self-imposed deadline for the UK to leave the European Union, it’s a real privilege to have some of the world’s top economists in Brighton, discussing potential routes forward for the country and the political and economic implications for our society if a deal is struck; or not, as the case may be.

“Our belief is that the economic issues that we address in our lecture theatres and classrooms have real world application, and events such as ‘RES Presents’ enables us to use these ideas to provide insights into and potential solutions for the social and economic issues facing us today.” 

On Monday 26 March, ‘Is it worth going to university?’ will address the financial impact of higher education and ask whether student debt and the future earnings potential of a degree make acquiring the qualification a worthwhile exercise.

In ‘'One year till Brexit: Are we nearly there yet?' on Tuesday 27 March, a panel of trade law and economic experts will address the legal and economic implications of Brexit and discuss the likely impact of alternative outcomes on businesses and households; different income groups, industrial sectors and regions.

Finally, on Wednesday 28 March, economics and policy experts will address a range of issues affecting the funding of the police in England and Wales; tackling hate crime, the use of the police force, and lessons from fighting crime in Latin America in ‘Effective policing: what can we learn from economics?’

These talks will run alongside a series of presentations by top economists and academics during the RES conference, covering everything from the effect of a Papal visit on the abortion rate in Italian towns to whether free private school vouchers for poorer students actually result in an increase in educational achievement.

Each event will provide a platform to demonstrate how the study of economics can provide insights into key contemporary socio-political and economic issues.

To register for tickets to attend these free events, please visit the relevant event page below.

Monday 26 March
6pm to 7.15pm

'Is it worth going to university?’

Panellists:

• Dr Jack Britton (Senior Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies)
• Dr Shqiponja Telhaj (Reader in Economics, University of Sussex; Research Associate, Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics)
• Professor Adam Tickell (Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex)
• Dr Gill Wyness (Lecturer in Economics of Education, Institute of Education; Research Economist, Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics)

Venue:

Michael Chowen Lecture Theatre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) Teaching Building, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9PX

Tuesday 27 March
6pm to 7.15pm

'One year till Brexit: Are we nearly there yet?'

Chair: 

Gemma Tetlow (Economics Correspondent, the Financial Times)

Panellists:

• Professor Michael C. Burda (Research Fellow and Program Coordinator, Humboldt University Berlin)
• Dr Emily Lydgate (Lecturer in Environmental Law, University of Sussex; Fellow of the UK Trade Policy Observatory)
• Professor L. Alan Winters (Professor of Economics, University of Sussex; Director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory; CEO of Migrating Out of Poverty Research Programme Consortium; Research Fellow, Centre for Economic Policy Research)
• Meredith Crowley (Lecturer at University of Cambridge; Fellow, St. John’s College)
• Robert W. Staiger (Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College, US)

Venue:

Friends’ Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF

Wednesday 28 March
6pm to 7.15pm

‘Effective policing: what can we learn from economics?’

Panellists:

• Professor Richard Disney (Professor of Economics, University of Sussex. Research Fellow, Institute for Fiscal Studies. Visiting Professor of Economics, University College London)
• Jeffrey Grogger (Irving Harris Professor in Urban Policy, University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy)
• Laura Jaitman (Ministry of the Treasury and G20 Finance Deputy, Argentina)
• Professor Tom Kirchmaier (Research Economist, Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics. and Copenhagen)

Venue:

The Old Courtroom, 118 Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UD