On 2 December, A Level Economics students attended the POLECON conference in Euston, London. The conference featured several prestigious speakers who were both engaging and informative. Among them was Ed Balls, who shared his perspective on the major events of the past twenty years that have impacted the UK economy, as well as the challenges currently facing the government. This was explored further by Torsten Bell, who highlighted issues surrounding poverty with a particular focus on child poverty.
After each speaker, the students were encouraged to participate in a question and answer session. These proved very popular, with topics ranging from the budge and the impact of the triple lock on their generation to environmental issues and the overall state of the economy. There were also speakers from respected organisations, including Jamie Rush from Bloomberg, who offered an interesting insight into how emerging economies are expected to develop, with India predicted to become the largest economy in the future. Additionally, Ben Zaranka from the IFS discussed the rise of electric cars and the implications for the car industry.
The conference also featured George Magnus, who examined the impact of China’s state-led model on globalisation, particularly its advancements in technology. However, Mark Littlewood offered a contrasting view, arguing that economic growth requires only around 20% state intervention, using the USA as an example.
The students thoroughly enjoyed the conference, finding the speakers inspiring and the discussions thought-provoking. The experience deepened their understanding of real-world economic issues and will greatly support their studies as they apply these insights to their A Level coursework and exams.
