Technology and the future of labour: historical and contemporary perspectives

British Academy Conferences bring together scholars and specialists from around the world to consider and evaluate new research in the humanities and social sciences.

Automation, artificial intelligence and big data will have a dramatic effect on future economies. New technology provides opportunities for growth and prosperity, but it also has potentially disruptive effects on the labour market, making existing skills and tasks obsolete. To achieve sustained and inclusive growth, it is important to understand how we can reap the benefits of new technologies and facilitate the successful transition of the workforce to new opportunities. However, such challenges are not new. The rise of machine-driven looms in the 19th century threatened jobs in the textiles sector, sparking the Luddite movement. Similar fears were present when computers were introduced in the 1970s and 1980s. How did economies respond to these challenges in the past? What are the lessons for today? Bringing together leading economic historians and labour economists with policymakers promises to yield important new insights on technological progress, economic growth, and the future of labour.

Conference convenors: 
Professor Sascha O. Becker, Monash University, Australia and University of Warwick

Dr Hyejin Ku, University College London

Speakers:
This is a hybrid conference with speakers participating in-person at The British Academy or virtually (V) as indicated below

Day 1, Thursday 24 March

Professor Robert Allen FBA, New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Professor David Autor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Professor Kaushik Basu, Cornell University, USA and former Chief Economist of the World Bank

Professor Nicholas Crafts FBA, University of Sussex and CAGE Warwick

Professor Stephen Machin FBA, London School of Economics and CEP

Professor Kathryn Shaw, Stanford University, USA

Dr Reka Juhasz Columbia University, USA (V)

Professor Claudia Steinwender, University of Munich, Germany

Professor John Van Reenen FBA, London School of Economics

Professor Joachim Voth, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Day 2, Friday 25 March

Professor David Autor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Professor Kaushik Basu, Cornell University, USA and former Chief Economist of the World Bank

Professor Christian Dustmann FBA, University College London

Dr Ekkehard Ernst, International Labor Organization, Switzerland

Professor Lawrence Katz, Harvard University, USA (V)

Professor Suresh Naidu, Columbia University, USA (V)

Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides FBA, London School of Economics and Institute for the Future of Work

Dr Pascual Restrepo, Boston University, USA (V)

Dr Martin Sandbu, Financial Times

Professor Kathryn Shaw, Stanford University, USA (V)

Professor Uta Schoenberg, University College London

Book tickets using the links below. When booking, you have a choice of an online or in-person ticket. Please note you must register for each day separately.

In-person standard ticket: £40 per day. Includes refreshments, lunch, and evening reception on 24 March*
In-person concession ticket: £20 per day. Includes refreshments, lunch, and evening reception on 24 March*
Online standard ticket: £10 per day.
Online concession ticket: £6 per day.
The concession rate applies to: unwaged / retired / early-career academics (within three years of completing PhD) / students / disabled. 

Free entrance is offered to companions or carers of disabled visitors.

Funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

All events are staged in line with the government’s COVID-19 guidelines and our venue’s COVID-19 guidelines. Measures are subject to change in accordance with government guidance; attendees will be notified of any changes prior to their visit. If you have any questions about this event please refer to our public events FAQs. If your question is not answered, please email [email protected]

Image: Getty Images

Day 1 will take place on Thursday 24 March, 10.00 - 18.30 GMT

Day 2 will take place on Friday 25 March, 10.00 - 17.00 GMT