Trajectories of British and European Capitalisms Post-Crash

Location: Future Economies Research Centre, MMU, Manchester / Webinar

Date and time: 15-16/12/20, 9.30am – 5.00pm

Livestream for Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxc0qWPohmM

Any queries please contact Dr Sean McDaniel: s.mcdaniel@mmu.ac.uk

With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, the conditions and structures of our political economies are set for an upheaval unlike any other seen this generation. Whilst for now that future is unknown, it remains critical to understand the trajectories of British and European Capitalisms since the last great shock – the 2008 financial crisis - in order to appreciate the impact this crisis may have and the kind of response needed.

The economic and financial crisis from 2008 on was seen by many, scholars and policy-makers alike, to undermine the foundations of the extant dominant neo-liberal growth model. Europe’s economies have undergone adjustment and reorganisation, yet its various models of economic growth continue to be weighed down by deep structural weaknesses. In the UK since 2008, for instance, productivity has flat-lined, real wages have collapsed, regional inequality has intensified and austerity has impacted heavily upon the public sector and welfare, disproportionately impacting women and ethnic minorities. On the other hand, despite the Eurozone crisis highlighting the serious problems associated with the composition of the Eurozone economic architecture, recent research suggests that European integration is still serving to promote particular ‘export-led’ growth models a la Germany, whilst punishing demand-led growth paths (Johnston and Regan 2018).

The purpose of this workshop is to ask, what can political economy tell us about the present predicament faced by capitalism in Europe?

The workshop is jointly hosted by Future Economies Research Centre (MMU) and the PSA British and Comparative Political Economy Specialist Group.