Cogs and Monsters: How economics needs to adapt to solve the world’s crises

Live interactive event.

Digital technology, big data, machine learning and AI are revolutionizing both the tools of economics and the phenomena it seeks to measure, understand, and shape. The profession faces enormous challenges and opportunities in responding effectively to these dizzying changes and in helping policymakers solve the world’s crises – from steering the Covid recovery and tackling inequality, to strengthening growth and addressing the climate emergency.

How should the theories, tools and techniques of economics adapt to better understand the nature of modern digital economies? And with the UK facing a decisive decade of economic change, how can the profession influence the policies and strategies need to navigate this shift?

At the launch of her new book, Cogs and Monsters: What Economics Is, and What It Should Be, Professor Diane Coyle will be joined by Professor Sir Tim Besley to discuss how economics can adapt to digital technologies, and realise its potential to play a hugely positive role in the twenty-first century.

This event will be delivered in person at the Resolution Foundation offices in Westminster, as well as online, and will be of particular interest to economists, policymakers, data analysts and anyone who is interested in how the fourth industrial revolution is changing the way we think, live, work and play. Viewers will be able to submit questions to the panel before and during the event.

Speakers

Professor Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge

Professor Sir Tim Besley, Professor of Economics of Political Science at LSE

Gavin Kelly, Chair of the Resolution Foundation (Chair)