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CEP Public Events

CEP Wellbeing Public Debate: Is happiness the right measure of social progress?

Robert Skidelsky (University of Warwick), joint with Richard Layard


Tuesday 18 October 2011 18:30 - 20:00

Old Theatre, Ground Floor, Old Building, LSE, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE

About this event

In his book Happiness (recently updated), Richard Layard argues that the best societies are those with the most happiness and the least misery. Public policy should be made on this basis. Robert Skidelsky has many reservations. They debate the issue.

Listen to a recording of the event:

CEP Work & Wellbeing Public Debate

Is Happiness the Right Measure of Social Progress?

Speaking For: Professor Lord Richard Layard, Director of Wellbeing Programme, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE

Speaking Against: Professor Lord Robert Skidelsky, Emeritus Professor of Political Economy, University of Warwick

Date: Tuesday 18 October 2011

Time: 6.30pm

Venue: Old Theatre, Ground Floor, LSE Old Building, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE  (map & directions)

Download Podcast (mp3 - approx 72 minutes)


Overview: In his book, Happiness (recently updated), Richard Layard argues that the best societies are those with the most happiness and the least misery. Public policy should be made on this basis. Robert Skidelsky has many reservations. They debate the issue.

About the Speakers:

Robert Skidelsky is Emeritus Professor of Political Economy at the University of Warwick. His three-volume biography of the economist John Maynard Keynes (1983, 1992, 2000) received numerous prizes, and he recently published Keynes: The Return of the Master. His forthcoming book is called How Much is Enough? The Economics of the Good Life jointly written with his son Edward Skidelsky. He was made a life peer in 1991.

Richard Layard is Emeritus Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, where he was, until 2003, the founder-director of the Centre for Economic Performance. He now heads the Centre’s Programme on Well-Being. Since 2000 he has been a member of the House of Lords.

 

Skidelsky_Layard

This event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For any queries email events@lse.ac.uk or call 020 7955 6043 .

Media queries: please contact the Press Office if you would like to reserve a press seat or have a media query about this event, email pressoffice@lse.ac.uk

Twitter: suggested hashtag #lsehappiness


If you are planning to attend these events and would like details on how to get here and what time to arrive, please refer to Coming to an event at LSE

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Participants are expected to adhere to the CEP Events Code of Conduct.


Directions

This event will take place in Old Theatre, Ground Floor, Old Building, LSE, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE.

The building is labelled OLD on the LSE campus map. You can also find us on Google Maps. For further information, go to contact us.