10–11 September 2026 · Nuffield College, Oxford

The Atkinson Conference

on Economic and Social Inequality
Nuffield College, University of Oxford Department of Social Policy & Intervention Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School
Submit an Abstract View Programme

About the Conference

The Atkinson Conference on Economic and Social Inequality brings together leading researchers from economics, sociology, social policy, and related disciplines for two days of interdisciplinary exchange at Nuffield College, Oxford. The conference is jointly coordinated by the Department of Social Policy & Intervention (DSPI), the Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School (INET Oxford), and Nuffield College.

The conference is named in honour of Sir Anthony (Tony) Atkinson (1944–2017), one of the most influential scholars of inequality. Atkinson was a Fellow of Nuffield College for over two decades and Warden of the College from 1994 to 2005. His work continues to shape how we understand and address inequality around the world.

We welcome both established and early-career scholars working on questions of economic and social inequality, broadly defined. There are no registration fees.

At a Glance

Dates
10–11 September 2026
Venue
Nuffield College, Oxford
Format
Keynotes, parallel sessions, panel discussion, conference dinner
Participants
Up to 98
Registration fee
None

Speakers & Plenary Events

Keynote Lecture
Janet Gornick
Janet Gornick
Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY)
“High and Rising Economic Inequalities in Affluent Countries: Nature, Causes, and Consequences”
Closing Keynote
Philippe Aghion
Philippe Aghion
Collège de France & London School of Economics · 2025 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences
“Creative destructions and the quest for inclusive growth”
Opening Panel
Sarah O’Connor
Inequality in the Age of AI
Moderated by Sarah O’Connor, Financial Times
A moderated discussion to open the conference
Panellists for Inequality in the Age of AI
Carl Benedikt Frey
Carl Benedikt Frey
Oxford Martin School & Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
Jane Gingrich
Jane Gingrich
Department of Social Policy & Intervention, University of Oxford
Jonathan Cribb
Jonathan Cribb
Deputy Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies

Additional speakers to be announced.

Call for Papers

We invite contributions on all aspects of economic and social inequality — empirical, theoretical, and methodological.

How to Submit

Submissions should be in the form of an abstract (up to 500 words) describing the research question, data and methods, and main findings or expected contributions.

All submissions are due by 22 May 2026; decisions will be communicated by 8 June 2026.

Submit via Google Form →

A ‘Room for Debate’ session featuring invited speakers will also be part of the programme.

Topics of Interest

We welcome papers on topics including, but not limited to:

Income & Wealth Inequality Measurement, trends, drivers
Poverty & Social Exclusion Dynamics, policies, cross-national comparisons
Labour Markets Wages, precarity, automation, gig economy
Social Policy Analysis Welfare states, tax and transfer systems, policy evaluation
Health & Education Inequalities Social determinants, intergenerational mobility
Social Mobility & Stratification Class, opportunity, life-course trajectories
Inequality & Technology AI, digitalisation, platform economies
Global & Comparative Perspectives Developing countries, cross-national analysis
Race, Gender & Intersectionality Structural inequalities, discrimination

Programme Overview

The detailed programme with session topics and paper assignments will be published after abstract decisions. Below is the planned schedule structure.

Thursday, 10 September 2026
08:30–09:00
Registration Registration & coffee
09:00–10:00
Opening Session Introductory Remarks & Panel on Inequality in the Age of AI Moderated by Sarah O’Connor (Financial Times)
10:00–10:30
Break Coffee
10:30–12:00
Parallel Sessions Paper presentations 3 parallel rooms
12:00–13:00
Lunch Buffet lunch
13:00–14:30
Parallel Sessions Paper presentations 3 parallel rooms
14:30–15:00
Break Coffee
15:00–16:30
Parallel Sessions Paper presentations 3 parallel rooms
16:45–17:45
Room for Debate Debate-style sessions 3 parallel rooms
18:00–19:00
Social Drinks reception
19:00
Dinner Conference dinner Nuffield College Dining Hall
Friday, 11 September 2026
08:30–09:00
Coffee Morning coffee & pastries
09:00–10:30
Parallel Sessions Paper presentations 3 parallel rooms
10:30–11:00
Break Coffee
11:00–12:15
Keynote Janet Gornick “High and Rising Economic Inequalities in Affluent Countries”
12:15–13:15
Lunch Buffet lunch
13:15–14:45
Parallel Sessions Paper presentations 3 parallel rooms
14:45–15:30
Break Coffee
15:30–16:30
Closing Keynote Philippe Aghion “Creative destructions and the quest for inclusive growth”
17:00
Optional Informal dinner in Oxford

Key Dates

Date Milestone
22 May 2026 Abstract submission deadline
8 June 2026 Notification of acceptance
10–11 Sept 2026 Conference at Nuffield College, Oxford

Venue & Travel

Nuffield College

New Road, Oxford OX1 1NF, United Kingdom

Nuffield College is located in the heart of Oxford, a short walk from the train station and city centre. All conference sessions, meals, and social events take place on the college grounds.

Getting to Oxford

  • By train: Oxford station is a 5-minute walk from Nuffield College. Direct trains from London Paddington (~1 hr) and other major cities.
  • By bus: The Oxford Tube and X90 run frequently from London Victoria (~1.5 hrs).
  • By air: London Heathrow (LHR) is the nearest major airport, with direct bus connections to Oxford (~1.5 hrs). Birmingham (BHX) is also convenient.

Accommodation

Oxford offers a wide range of accommodation options. We recommend booking early, as September is a busy period.

  • Details on recommended hotels and any group booking arrangements will be posted here closer to the conference.

Conference Dinner

A conference dinner will be held on Thursday evening in the Nuffield College Dining Hall. All registered participants are welcome.

Organising Committee & Contact

Zachary Parolin
INET Oxford, Department of Social Policy and Intervention & Nuffield College, University of Oxford
Juliana de Castro Galvão
Nuffield College, University of Oxford
Selçuk Bedük
Department of Social Policy and Intervention & INET Oxford, University of Oxford
Niki Savage
INET Oxford, University of Oxford
Jonathan Martin
INET Oxford, University of Oxford
Heads of Organising Institutions
Julia Black
Nuffield College, University of Oxford
Eric Beinhocker
INET Oxford & Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
Kenneth Nelson
Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford

For questions about the conference, submissions, or logistics, please contact the organising committee (info@inet.ox.ac.uk).