About this day
For A-level, IB, BTEC Level 3 and T Level economics students
Join us this autumn for a dynamic, thought-provoking day at Economics in Action! Through engaging discussions, interactive sessions, and real-world case studies, students will uncover the forces shaping our world—from microeconomics to global markets.
Our inspiring speakers—including industry leaders, top academics, and policymakers—will share cutting-edge insights and real-world experiences, bringing economics to life like never before.
A special exam success session will equip students with expert strategies to boost confidence and performance. With live polls, quizzes, and plenty of chances to engage with speakers, this is far more than just a lecture—it’s an experience!
Host: Matthew Pritchard (Science Communicator) Exam Session: Peter Cramp (The Economics Factory)
“A great day with a lot of interesting ideas for our economic students!”
– Wellingborough School –
More speakers and sessions for this exciting event will be announced soon!
Programme & speakers
The Rise of Rentier Power Beth Stratford, University of Roehampton
Uncover the immense influence of gatekeepers, monopolists, landowners, and financiers. Discover how their consolidated power drives inequality, stifles innovation, and drives inefficient use of our precious natural resources. Together, we will explore strategies to tackle rentier power, to create a fairer, more resilient and sustainable society.
About Dr Beth Stratford
Beth Stratford is a political economist specializing in the relationship between ecological crisis and rentier power. She has advised the Labour Party on housing policy and environmental tax reform. She is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at UCL, and an advisor to Positive Money and the Social Guarantee.
How to be a successful economist Vicky Pryce, Chief Economic Adviser, Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR)
Join Vicky for a dynamic session based on Exploring Career Opportunities in Economics. Learn what employers really want, discover the essential skills for success, and explore career paths in industries like finance, government, and consultancy. Vicky will share practical tips to boost your employability and guide you through building the toolkit every economist needs to thrive.
About Professor Vicky Pryce
Vicky Pryce is Chief Economic Adviser and board member at the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) and a Visiting Professor at King’s College, London. Formerly Joint Head of the UK Government Economic Service. Her recent books include How to be a Successful Economist, Women vs Capitalism and Mismanaged Decline.
How well-behaved are your decisions? Rebecca McDonald, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Birmingham
Why do we make decisions we later regret, procrastinate, or help others without reward? This talk explores how behavioural economics uses psychology and experiments to challenge traditional models of rational decision-making. Join us for an interactive session that introduces key insights from this exciting area of economics and take part in some economic experiments to find out if our minds are as well-behaved as we like to think!
About Dr Rebecca McDonald
Rebecca is an experimental economist exploring the psychology of choice and value. She investigates how risk, timing, and our group identity influence the decisions we make, uncovering the surprising ways we seek out or avoid information.
The Economics of Happiness Caspar Kaiser, Assistant Professor, Warwick Business School
What makes us happy, and can economics explain it? This talk explores how wellbeing is measured and whether self-reported happiness is scientifically valid. We’ll examine why decades of economic growth haven’t boosted happiness and delve into how inequality and different stages of life affect happiness, before turning to the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on our wellbeing in an increasingly digital and data-driven world.
About Dr Caspar Kaiser
Caspar Kaiser is an Assistant Professor at Warwick Business School and Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. He researches how to best measure wellbeing.
The Economics of Money Brigitte Granville, Professor of International Economics and Economic Policy, Queen Mary UoL
What is the value of money, and on what foundation does it rest? From Aristotle to Marx, Keynes to Friedman, monetary economics is revealed as a study of trust, power, imagination, and of life itself. This talk opens a door into a discipline where philosophy, politics, and psychology meet mathematics and history, showing how money shapes civilisation— and why it remains one of humanity’s most dangerous and beautiful ideas.
About Professor Brigitte Granville
Brigitte’s research centres on monetary economics and its applications to wider issues in political economy. Her publications include Remembering Inflation and What Ails France? She is a regular columnist for Project Syndicate and The Conversation and was appointed a Chevalier in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French government, in recognition of her contributions to education.