The Future of Transport: stargazing and guiding principles

Monday 25 October 2010

Michelle Di Leo, Austin Williams, and Yvonne Hübner will be in conversation with the Salon audience, chaired by Keith McCabe.

When Mancunians roundly rejected a new transport plan in 2008, Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester’s city council said 'There is no plan B, which is why we will have to have a period of reflection'. The plan would have made £3billion of funding available for transport improvements: much of it borrowed against future revenue from a proposed rush-hour congestion charge. The voters of Manchester, it appeared, were in no mood to have to foot the bill for improvements funded through a tax on driving.

Ferraris for all: is economic growth such a good thing?

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Daniel Ben-Ami will introduce a discussion about the scope for and limits to economic development in the developed and developing world.

Is economic growth such a good thing? Until the 1970s few would have even thought of asking this question. Yet today the West is often seen as guilty of overconsumption, while the rapid growth of developing countries such as China and India is seen by many in a highly negative light.

People who champion growth are accused of encouraging greed, damaging the environment and widening social inequalities. Daniel Ben-Ami, in his new book Ferraris for all, challenges these notions, arguing that society as a whole benefits from greater affluence and that we should celebrate growth. 

This discussion is still in the planning phase, and hoping to identify someone to speak alongside Daniel who will articulate the case for restrained development - any offers please get in touch.