British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
FEELING THE PINCH?
The baby boom of 1945-65 produced the biggest, richest generation that Britain has ever known. Today, at the peak of their power and wealth, these baby boomers run our country; but has this position been attained at the expense of their children?
At a special event next week at the British Academy, David Willetts MP joins leading academics to explore whether the relatively high levels of wealth, in historic terms, of the post war generation has selfishly deprived future generations of their natural claims and rights. The theme of the event is prompted by Willetts’ new book, The Pinch: How the baby boomers took their children’s future – and why they should give it back.
Willetts will argue that if our political, economic and cultural leaders fail to start discharging their obligations to the future, people entering the workforce today will be taxed more, work longer hours for less money, have lower social mobility and live in a degraded environment in order to pay for their parents’ quality of life.
Joining him on the panel are three academic experts offering responses from (respectively) economic, legal and ethical perspectives: Professor William Beckerman, Professor John Eekelaar FBA and Professor Jonathan Wolff.
Robbing our own future? Intergenerational justice under the microscope is on Tuesday 2 March 2010, from 7.00 to 8.30pm at The British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH. The event is free to the public and no tickets or registration are required.