Reimagining Capitalism is a pioneering 10-week course by the School of Public Policy, supported by the Cohesive Capitalism Programme, that offers a reflection on the future of capitalism, envisioned as a more cohesive, sustainable, and equitable system. This course encourages a critical examination of capitalism through various lenses—economic, social, and ethical—challenging one to envision a system that balances innovation and growth with inclusivity, sustainability, and social responsibility.
As part of this course, a series of public lectures is made available to the LSE community. This lecture series, chaired by course convenor Professor Luis Garicano, seeks to encourage rigorous analysis, dialogue, and the exploration of innovative solutions that address the challenges of our time. Key topics include an analysis of stakeholder capitalism, exploring how businesses can be oriented to serve broader societal interests beyond shareholder profits; the role of the state in contemporary capitalism, examining government's capacity to regulate, support, and sometimes even distort market mechanisms. Attendees will learn about the history and achievements of capitalism as a mode of socio-economic organisation, and also its limitations.
All ten lectures, held weekly on Mondays 6.00pm to 7.30pm, are open to all LSE staff and students to attend on a non-credit basis. It is relevant to anyone in the LSE community interested in critically engaging with and contributing to the reimagining of capitalism as a force for good in the 21st century.
The Programme on Cohesive Capitalism has been made possible thanks to a transformational gift from the Open Society Foundations, as part of its Ideas and Fellowships Collaborative.
Lecture 1: What is Capitalism?*
Monday 30 September, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Speakers: Tim Besley, Professor of Economics and Political Science and W. Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics, Department of Economics, LSE; Larry Kramer, President and Vice Chancellor, LSE
Chair: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
*Being the launch event of the lecture series, there will be a complimentary reception held for all attendees after the lecture held outside the Auditorium.
Lecture 2: Zero-Sum Thinking and the Roots of Political Differences
Monday 7 October, 6.00pm - 7.30pm
Speaker: Sandra Sequeira, Associate Professor in Development Economics, Department of International Development, LSE
Chair: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
Lecture 3: Advanced Capitalisms Reinvented: Innovation-driven Companies, Superstar Clusters and American Dominance
Monday 14 October, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Speaker: David Soskice, Emeritus Professor, Department of Government, LSE
Chair: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
Lecture 4: Understanding the Populist Backlash
Monday 21 October, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Speaker: Andrés Velasco, Professor and Dean of the LSE School of Public Policy
Chair: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
Lecture 5: Neoliberalism and its critics
Monday 28 October, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Speaker: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
Lecture 6: Cohesive Criminal Justice
Monday 4 November, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Speaker: Nicola Lacey, Professor of Law, Gender and Social Policy, LSE Law School
Chair: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
Lecture 7: The Corporation and its purpose
Monday 11 November, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Speaker: David Kershaw, Professor and Dean of the LSE Law School
Chair: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
Lecture 8
Monday 18 November, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Speaker: Oriana Bandiera, Professor of Economics, and Sir Atkinson Chair of Economics, Department of Economics, LSE
Chair: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
Lecture 9: Economics of Social Enterprises
Monday 25 November, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Speaker: Maitreesh Ghatak, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, LSE
Chair: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
Lecture 10: Innovation and Inequality
Monday 2 December, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Speaker: Xavier Jaravel, Associate Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, LSE
Chair: Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, LSE School of Public Policy
Location: Auditorium, Centre Building, LSE Campus
Enquiries about this lecture series should be directed to Dr Bryan Cheang at B.Cheang@lse.ac.uk.