Agenda: Recovery towards what? Finance, justice, sustainability

Recovery towards what?
Finance, justice, sustainability

6 November 2009 in London, UK

9:00 - 9:30

Registration and coffee

9:30 - 9:45

Welcome and opening remarks

Speaker: Brendan Barber (Trade Union Congress)

9:45 - 11:30

Opening Debate

Topic: What kind of financial system do we want?

Description: Re-regulation is upon us, but some are questioning whether it can really solve the root causes of the crisis. The session will begin the exploration of the purpose of the financial system and its regulation as well as its potential impact. Can it create regulation financial stability as well as environmental and social responsibility? What do we want from finance?

Chair: Larry Elliot (The Guardian)

Speakers: Jane Fuller (Fuller Analysis), Costas Lapavitsas (School of Oriental and African Studies), Adam Lent (Trade Union Congress), Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (Party of European Socialists)

11:30 - 13:00

Breakout session 1 - in depth discussion of regulation

Topic: Regulation in the UK and Europe

Description: The session will present an in-depth look at the domestic and regional proposals for re-regulation. What is the right boundary between domestic and EU measures, and are they sufficient? Is the political will there for using regulation as a tool towards larger goals.

Chair: Janet Williamson (Trade Union Congress)

Speakers: Mel Evans (Platform), Myriam Vander Stichele (Centre for Research on Multilateral Corporations, SOMO), Nicolas Véron (Bruegel)

Topic: Global regulation: what progress, what prospects?

Description: Global regulation agencies such as the IMF, Bank for International Settlements and Financial Stability Board are fragmented, limited and contested. What are the pros and cons of increasing their roles and how can concerns about their legitimacy and effectiveness be overcome? Is the time right tp push for a new World Financial Authority or a similar body?

Chair: Alex Wilks (European Network on Debt and Development)

Speakers: Filomeno III Sta. Ana (Association for Economic Reform), Barbara Ridpath (International Centre for Financial Regulation), Xiaoke Zhang (University of Nottingham)

Topic: Regulating global imbalances

Description: Much blame for the financial crisis has been laid at the door of global imbalances, the US trade deficit and China's surplus, creating pressures on the financial system. Can these imbalances be addressed equitably? How realistic are the calls for a global reserve currency?

Chair: Peter Chowla (The Bretton Woods Project)

Speakers: Gérard Duménil (French National Centre for Scientific Research), Gao Haihong (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), Terry McKinley (School of Oriental and African Studies), Ann Pettifor (Advocacy International)

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch

14:00 - 15:30

Plenary Two

Topic: What are our alternatives?

Description: If current proposals for regulation are not the answer, then we must look elsewhere. The plenary will begin the exploration of what other economic and financial policies might be needed to bring about the desired social and environmental outcomes.

Chair: Belinda Calaguas (ActionAid)

Speakers: Nancy Kachingwe (ActionAid), Miriam Kennett (Green Economics Institute), James Vaccaro (Triodos Bank), Robert Wade (London School of Economics)

15:30 - 16:00

Tea Break

16:00 - 17:30

Breakout session 2

Topic: Alternative banking models

Description: The crisis demonstrates that the banking industry needs reform, but is the only solution a return to a utility model of banks? Do we need more alternatives such as micro-credit, solidarity finance, and national development banking? And which of the alternatives is right for the poor and marginalised in both developed and developing countries?

Chair: Sargon Nissan (New Economics Foundation)

Speakers: Ugo Biggeri (Responsabilitá Etica), Gary Dymski (University of California), Faisel Rahman (Fair Finance), Jean-Claude Rodríguez-Ferrera (Association for Community Development)

Topic: The public sphere as an alternative

Description: As economic models embraced neo-liberal theory, the public sector came under attack as inefficient and ineffective. Is a return to the public sector part of the solution? Should and how can the public sector take back ground in heavily privatised areas like health and housing?

Chair: Jeff Powell (School of Oriental and African Studies)

Speakers: Kate Bayliss (School of Oriental and African Studies), Sally Ruane (De Montfort University Leicester), Vincent Dlamini (National Public Services and Allied Workers Union)

Topic: Financing a new paradigm

Description: Reorienting the economy for social and environmental outcomes is going cost dearly. This is especially true in low-income countries which need a development path that meets the need for environmental sustainability. Where the money going to come from and how should it be disbursed?

Chair: Robin Webster (Friends of the Earth)

Speakers: Colin Hines (Finance for the Future), Lauren Phillips (London School of Economics), Kunibert Raffer (University of Vienna)

18:00 - 19:30

Keynote Speeches - a public event in the evening

Topic: Solving our financial and economic problems through global governance

Chair: Claire Melamed (ActionAid)

Speakers: Jomo KS (UN Department for Social and Economic Affairs), YV Reddy (formerly Reserve Bank of India)