We’re delighted to announce that that this year’s Campaign for Social Science Annual Sage Lecture will be delivered by Professor Dame Diane Coyle FAcSS, Bennett Professor of Public Policy and Research Director of the Bennett School of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, who will share her insights on how the UK can deliver economic growth across the country.
With UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham having set out his ambition for “growth in every postcode”, join us for an engaging exploration of one of the UK’s most important economic and policy challenges with one of the country’s leading economists.
In her lecture, Diane, will explore the practicalities of delivering economic growth across different places against a backdrop of weaker trend productivity growth and growing inequalities in income, wealth and opportunity across the UK. She will discuss the kinds of policies, investment, institutions and local capabilities needed to turn this ambition into reality, and how national, regional and local government might work together to deliver it. She will also consider how we might measure whether growth is delivering for people and places and will examine the opportunities and challenges involved in pursuing a more geographically inclusive approach to growth.
Following the lecture, Professor Monder Ram CBE FAcSS, Professor of Small Business at Aston University, and Professor Anna Valero, Professor in Practice and Director of the Growth Programme at the Centre for Economic Performance, LSE, will provide their reflections and own thoughts on the challenge and opportunities for growth in the UK.
The event will be chaired by Professor Christina Boswell FAcSS, Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh and Chair of the Campaign for Social Science and will be followed by a networking reception.
Can policy deliver growth in every postcode? will take place on Thursday 3 December 2026 between 6pm and 8.30pm. The event will be held at Sage Publishing, 3rd floor, HYLO, 103-105 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8LZ. Doors open at 5.30pm with the lecture beginning promptly at 6pm. A networking reception will follow the lecture until 8.30pm. Spaces are limited so register now to avoid disappointment.