Neo-liberalism and the Political Economy of Austerity

Thursday 30 January, 4:15pm
Violet Butler Room, Department of Social Policy and Intervention

Professor Ray Kiely, Professor of International Politics, Queen Mary University of London

An event in our Oxford Institute of Social Policy Hilary Term seminar series, Austerity and Beyond. 

The relationship between neoliberalism and austerity is varied and contingent. There have been numerous examples of neoliberal expansion without fiscal conservatism. Nevertheless in times of economic crisis neoliberals generally advocate fiscal conservatism and austerity, and this session examines the various neoliberal cases for why this is necessary, drawing on Hayek’s reading of austerity as a necessary example of Schumpeter’s creative destruction, monetarist examples of monetary targets, and ordo-liberal interpretations of sound money. These are then subject to a critique – both of austerity and of neoliberalism.

All are welcome to attend; we do not take advance bookings, so we recommend you arrive early to avoid disappointment.