The 2026 Stone Centre Annual Public Lecture With Stephen Machin

Announcing the 2026 Stone Centre Annual Public Lecture: Stephen Machin on 'What's different about inequality today?'

‍

We are delighted to announce this year's Stone Centre Annual Public Lecture, given by Stephen Machin, Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Director of the Centre for Economic Performance. The lecture, titled 'What's different about inequality today?', will trace how labour market inequality has changed over the last several decades.

‍

Inequality today looks very different from the rapidly rising inequality of the 1980s and 1990s. The minimum wage has held up the bottom of the hourly wage distribution, but wages above it have stagnated, hours and contracts have become more uncertain, and the composition of family income has changed. In this year's lecture, Stephen will look at what has really shifted in labour market inequality over the last several decades, and what it means for the cost-of-living crisis, housing, and current debates on zero-hour contracts, stamp duty, and wealth taxes.

‍

Places are limited. Register here to reserve your spot.