Solid Foundations? Economic Inequality and the Housing Crisis – TASC-FEPS 8th Annual Conference

Inequality and what to do about it is now back on the political agenda.  For several years the annual conference of TASC-FEPS (Foundation of Progressive European Studies) has brought together progressive thinkers, activists and policy makers to discuss key social issues.  Previous speakers have included Thomas Piketty and the late Sir Anthony Atkinson. The 2016 conference was also addressed by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.

This year’s conference looks at the extent and form of inequality in Ireland and the developed world and how this shapes the very specific crisis of housing in Ireland – especially in Dublin.

The 2017 conference also sees the launch of the 2017 edition of TASC’s annual inequality report, Cherishing All Equally.  As in previous editions, the report monitors trends in economic inequality in Ireland; a specially commissioned section of this year’s report examines the housing crisis.  At the conference Prof James Wickham from TASC will put Irish inequality in its European context; Dr Rory Hearne will show how the housing crisis results from the commodification of what used to be a human right – a home.  These two themes – inequality and housing – and the links between them are explored in keynote speeches and panel discussions by researchers, activists and policy makers.

Check the programme