ISIGrowth CONFERENCE – Europe beyond austerity: a discussion on how to restore innovation-fuelled growth

Isigrowth Annual Conference, Brussels, 1-2 June 2016.
A conference that will bring together top macroeconomic experts with ISIGrowth researchers in order to discuss the project research findings on the consequences of Europe’s fiscal austerity and possible alternative solutions

Registration is now closed

For information please contact Ms Laura Ferrari: laura.ferrari@sssup.it

The Great Recession has hit European economies hard, triggering sovereign debt crises and threatening the very survival of the Euro area. The main policy response adopted by European governments has been fiscal austerity, incarnated in the Fiscal Compact. However, fiscal-consolidation policies do not appear to have been successful. Indeed, the GDP of European member states is still below its potential level and in some economies is even lower than pre-crisis output, while unemployment remains very high. Moreover, a growing inconsistency has emerged between fiscal rigour and the Europe 2020 objectives of transforming Europe into the most competitive economy in the world. Indeed, austerity policies could damage the innovative performance of Europe, reducing potential GDP and preventing the achievement of the Horizon 2020 objective of achieving smart inclusive sustainable growth.

Program

June 1, 2016 • Meeting room WM2, rue Van Maerlant, 2

h.9.30 – 16.15

An assessment of austerity policies and possible alternatives

9 30 Welcome by Giovanni Dosi, ISIGrowth Scientific Coordinator
9.45 Peter Dröll (European Commission – DG Research and Innovation): ISIGrowth in the context of Horizon 2020 and the Innovation Council Objectives
10.15 Alan Kirman (Aix-Marseille Université): Models of the crisis and policy recipes out of it

11.15 James K. Galbraith (Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, UTA): Austerity policies and inequality
11.45 Robert Skidelsky (University of Warwick): Austerity in times of crisis: 1929 vs 2008
12.15 Mariana Mazzucato (University of Sussex): Mission-driven innovation policies vs. shovel-ready ‘infrastructure fix’

13.45 Giovanni Dosi (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna): The Short- and Long-Run Consequences of Fiscal Austerity: Keynes beyond Schumpeter
14.15 Willi Semmler (New School for Social Research): Debt Deflation, Financial Market Stress and Regime Change – Evidence from Europe Using MRVAR
14.45 Stefano Battiston (University of Zurich): Financial innovation and the real economy: creative destruction or destructive creation
15.15 Arturo O’Connell (Central Bank of the Argentine Republic): Centre-periphery relations: lessons from the Americas to Europe

h. 16.00-19.00

Policy Roundtable
Chairs: Giovanni Dosi and Mariana Mazzucato

Towards an era of renewed innovation-driven growth: some tentative policy suggestions
Introduction by Giovanni Dosi on current results of the ISIGrowth project followed

June 2, 2016 • Research Executive Agency (Place Charles Rogier, 16)

h. 9.15 – 11.15
COV2 – 19 floor – SDR2

ISIGrowth meets Civil Society
Report, discussion, dissemination with Civic Action Network

Chair: Susan George, Transnational Institute, Amsterdam

Grazia Naletto, Lunaria-Sbilanciamoci, Roma: Presentation of the ISIGrowth-Lunaria Report on Civic Action Network
“How can Europe change? Civil society proposals for policy alternatives on socially inclusive and sustainable growth”

Speakers
Andrew Watt, Independent Annual Growth Survey, Hans Bockler Stiftung
Werner Raza, Euromemorandum Group, Vienna
Martin Myant, European Trade Union Institute
Giulia Porino, Finance Watch, Brussels
Fiona Dove, Transnational Institute, Amsterdam
Markus Meinzer, Tax justice network, London
Rabab Khairy, ATTAC

Restricted event – no more places available