In this year’s Rebuilding Macroeconomics event entitled: Diversity and Representation, we ask if greater inclusiveness is not only a matter of fairness, but that it is also crucial for scientific progress. We ask how greater diversity and representation enables us to see more diverse social realities and their interconnections, leading to a much greater understanding about our economy and society.

Policy relevant sciences aim to expand our knowledge about the real world through different means – experiments for natural sciences; thought experiments for philosophers; case studies, qualitative and quantitative methods for social sciences and, in particular, ‘toy’ models in economics. The aim of these different methods is to examine areas of interest by abstracting from other features to gain insights about the world around us to find answers to emerging challenges.

The key limitation of every scientific method is the initial imagination of the scientists involved, which is limited by their own life experiences. Greater representation means more diverse experiences included in the scientific process, and the greater the potential for expanding our collective imagination and knowledge. It can enable a richer discourse of different perspectives and approaches and even allow us to see more complex interconnections.

Schedule:

We are delighted to have five distinguished speakers who will take us on a journey to explore this issue. Please note, all timings below are provisional and subject to change.

2.00 - 2.05

Introduction by Angus Armstrong

2.05 - 20.20pm

Introduction by chair: Susan J. Smith, Girton College Mistress

2.20-2.35pm: Prof Kristen Intemann

How Diversity and Inclusivity Benefits Research

2.35 - 2.50pm: Rhonda Vonshay Sharpe

The Quest for Inclusion in Economics in the US: Fifty Years of Slow Progress

2.50 - 3.05pm: Carolina Alves

Going Beyond Diversity: the Case for Decolonising Economics and Why it Matters

3.05 - 3.35pm: Q&A

3.35 - 3:45 pm: Short Break

15.45 - 16.00: Arun Advani

Practical barriers to increasing the diversity of people studying and working in economics

16.00 - 16.15: Felicia Odammten

Racial diversity in economics matters

16.15 - 17.00: Discussion and Q&A

About the Speakers:

Kristen Intemann: is Professor at Montana State University for Philosophy of Science, Ethics, Feminist Philosophy

Rhonda Vonshay Sharpe: Founder and President, Women’s Institute for Science, Equity, and Race; Co-author of: Black Women in the U.S. Economy: The Hardest Working Woman (January 2021)

Carolina Alves: Joan Robinson Fellow in Heterodox Economics (Girton College) and co-founder of Diversifying and Decolonising Economics

Arun Advani: Assistant Professor in the Economics Departmant and Impact Director of the CAGE Research Centre at the University of Warwick. Co-chair of the Discover Economics campaign, aiming to increase the diversity of people who study and work in economics. On the Editorial Board of the Economics Observatory.

Felicia Odammten: Founder and Director of The Black Economists Network (T-BEN), a UK based organisation with global footprint that seeks to connect, support and inspire Black Economists while challenging the lack of diversity in the field. She is also a Fast-stream Economist in the UK Civil Service

About the organisers and the Festival of Social Science:

This webinar is brought to you by Rebuilding Macroeconomics and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. This event as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2020 was made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation.