Keep Calm and Carry On? Policy, Psychology and the Effects of ‘Economic War’

Date/time
Date(s) - 30/04/2012
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Location:
British Library Conference Centre

A British Library and Strategic Society Centre joint debate looking at the psychological effects of economic uncertainty and how policymakers should respond.

Date and time: 17.30-19.00, Monday April 30th, 2012

Location: British Library Conference Centre, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB

Ongoing global economic adjustments and financial crises have created a context of uncertainty and risk for the UK population that is unprecedented in living memory.

Potentially catastrophic threats to economic stability – such as a collapse of the Eurozone – now represent the new ‘normal’ for households and may continue for years to come. This environment – described by the Business Secretary as equivalent to ‘economic war’ – will inevitably have psychological consequences for society, in addition to the job and financial insecurity affecting the most vulnerable households.

The potential cost to the well-being of the population may be severe and is likely to affect how individuals make decisions, view their future and themselves. With the current period of global instability forecast to last for several years, policymakers confront an important set of questions:

• What is the psychological effect of ‘economic war’ on the population likely to be?
• What strategic responses are available to policymakers to alleviate the effects of living with ‘economic war’?
• What sort of coping strategies can policymakers encourage among households?
• Should the government actually adopt a ‘war footing’ by actively downplaying negative news and risks, or is it better for households to become adjusted to this new ‘normal’?

Speakers at this event comprised:

• Mel Bartley, Professor of Medical Sociology, UCL
• Peter Taylor-Gooby, Professor of Social Policy, University of Kent
• Edgar Jones, Professor of the History of Medicine and Psychiatry, King’s College London

The event was chaired by James Lloyd, Director, Strategic Society Centre.

Download the slides: Keep Calm and Carry On – Slides

Or view on slideshare: