Symposium on “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” and the
UC San Diego Helen Edison Lecture Series presents Thomas Piketty 

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015
Symposium: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Helen Edison Lecture Series and Book Signing: 7 – 9 p.m.

What drives wealth and inequality? Meet Thomas Piketty, author of the best-selling book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century,” and the researchers that worked with him in producing this widely discussed text, translated around the world.

The symposium is free and open to the public, but registration is required per session (see above). A separate registration link is required for the evening lecture and book signing (register here). 

Symposium on “Capital in the Twenty-First Century”

Listen to experts from several fields at UC San Diego and other leading universities discuss the issues this book raises about the causes of economic inequality over time and across different countries. They will explore the concentration of wealth, the consequences for economic growth, the implications for social mobility and the effects on public policy and politics. Join us as they answer the most pressing questions raised by this research, including should we be troubled by these developments and what can we do about them?

Morning Session: “The Causes of Inequality: Political, Social and Economic”
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Multipurpose Room, Student Services Center, UC San Diego

In this session, scholars will discuss key questions on the causes of inequality that Piketty and colleagues note. They will address questions such as if the causes are cultural, institutional or technological; how countries differ and why; can policy do anything about it; and how is inequality different from mobility?

Session Chair:
Lane Kenworthy, Professor of Sociology and Yankelovich Chair in Social Thought, UC San Diego

Panelists:
Gordon Hanson, Pacific Economic Cooperation Chair in International Economic Relations, UC San Diego
Gary Jacobson, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, UC San Diego
Valerie Ramey, Professor of Economics, UC San Diego

Lunchtime Roundtable: “Inside Inequality: The Making of the Book with the Author and his Collaborators”
Time: 12 – 2 p.m.
Location: Multipurpose Room, Student Services Center, UC San Diego
Note: lunch will be provided for all who register by Oct. 13 and if available, on a first come, first serve basis 

In this session, Thomas Piketty and scholars will discuss the making of the book. Key topics explored will range from what pattern of inequality they are observing today and how it compares to the past, the components of inequality they explore that allow them to reach these observations and the data comparison that enabled them to make the generalizations that inequality now is growing. The panelists will delve into the forms of wealth that matter, the period from 1914-1970 that produced a narrowing of the gap and what caused the narrowing, how much of it is government policy and what is the role of policy in creating the inequality and the narrowing.

Session Chair:
Peter Gourevitch, Founding Dean and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science, UC San Diego

Panelists:
Thomas Piketty, Professor of Economics, Paris School of Economics
Arthur Goldhammer, Senior Affiliate, Center for European Studies, Harvard University
Jean-Laurent Rosenthal, Rea A. and Lela G. Axline Professor of Business Economics, California Institute of Technology
Emmanuel Saez, Professor of Economics, UC Berkeley

Afternoon Session: “The Consequences of Inequality: Why Does it Matter and How?”
Time: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Multipurpose Room, Student Services Center, UC San Diego

In this session, scholars will discuss key questions of the consequences of inequality. They will address questions such as should we care about absolute inequality, mobility and relative inequality or a safety net for those at the bottom; and what is the impact of inequality on politics, culture, values and our education systems?

Session Chair:
Thad Kousser, Professor of Political Science, UC San Diego

Panelists:
Richard Arneson, Valtz Family Chair in Philosophy, UC San Diego
Isaac Martin, Professor of Sociology, UC San Diego
Hugh “Bud” Mehan, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, UC San Diego
Tom Wong, Assistant Professor of Political Science, UC San Diego

Lecture and Book Signing

UC San Diego Helen Edison Lecture Series presents Thomas Piketty
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Location: Mandeville Auditorium, UC San Diego

Register here

Join UC San Diego’s Helen Edison Lecture Series for an eye-opening conversation between Piketty and Peter Gourevitch, the founding dean of UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy and distinguished professor emeritus of Political Science, about the causes of income inequality and what the increased concentration of wealth means for our economy and society. The event is free and open to the public. A book signing will follow the talk.

Symposium co-sponsors: UC San Diego Yankelovich Center for Social Science Research; UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and its Center on Global Transformation; the UC San Diego departments of Economics, Sociology and Political Science; and with the support of UC San Diego Extension and the Helen Edison Lecture Series. 

Directions: The Multipurpose Room is located on Level 1 of the Student Services Center on the corner of Rupertus Way and Myers Drive, south of Price Center East. View the map here.

Parking: The closest parking for this event will be at the Gilman Parking Structure. Attendees will be responsible for purchasing their own permits at the pay stations. Parking at UC San Diego is difficult during the school year; therefore, please plan accordingly.