The Atkinson Conference on Economic and Social Inequality

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

Speakers & Plenary Events

Keynote Lecture

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

Collège de France & London School of Economics · 2025 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences · presenting virtually

“Creative destructions and the quest for inclusive growth”

Opening Panel

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

Oxford Martin School & Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford

Jane Gingrich

Department of Social Policy & Intervention, University of Oxford

Jonathan Cribb

Deputy Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies

All paper presentations and Room for Debate sessions are listed on the full programme page.

Conference Registration

Registration is now closed

Registration for the Atkinson Conference is now closed. Due to capacity limits at Nuffield College, guests who have not registered are unable to attend.

Programme Overview

The programme at a glance is below. The full parallel programme — fifteen sessions with all papers and presenters — and the Room for Debate line-up are on the full programme page.

Full Programme & Sessions Conference Pack (PDF)

Thursday, 10 September 2026

08:45–09:30

Registration Registration & coffee

09:30–10:30

Opening Session Opening Roundtable: Inequality in the Age of AI Moderated by Sarah O’Connor (FT) · Carl Benedikt Frey, Jane Gingrich & Jonathan Cribb · Lecture Theatre

10:30–11:00

Break Coffee

11:00–12:30

Parallel 1 Sessions 1–3 3 parallel rooms

12:30–13:30

Lunch Buffet lunch

13:30–15:00

Parallel 2 Sessions 4–6 3 parallel rooms

15:00–15:30

Break Coffee

15:30–17:00

Parallel 3 Sessions 7–9 3 parallel rooms

17:00–17:10

Break Transition to debate rooms

17:10–18:10

Room for Debate Four debates across two rooms 2 parallel rooms

Friday, 11 September 2026

08:30–09:00

Coffee Morning coffee & pastries

09:00–10:30

Parallel 4 Sessions 10–12 3 parallel rooms

10:30–11:00

Break Coffee

11:00–12:30

Keynote Janet Gornick “High and Rising Economic Inequalities in Affluent Countries”

12:30–13:30

Lunch Buffet lunch

13:30–15:00

Parallel 5 Sessions 13–15 3 parallel rooms

15:00–15:30

Break Coffee

15:30–16:30

Closing Keynote Philippe Aghion “Creative destructions and the quest for inclusive growth” · presenting virtually

All times Oxford local (BST). Programme subject to change.

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.

Where to Stay

Block booking — St Anne’s College

We are holding a block of rooms at St Anne’s College, approximately a 15-minute walk from Nuffield College. £90 per night en suite · £60 per night with a shared bathroom. Please see your acceptance letter for the booking code and link. Availability is limited, so we encourage attendees to book as soon as possible.

Alternatively, there are a number of hotels within a 15-minute walk of the conference venue. We advise booking early, as Oxford attracts many visitors during the summer months. Secure luggage storage will be available on both days of the conference.

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).