The Price of Civilization

Keynote Speaker: Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University

The lecture is immediately followed by a panel discussion with: Professor Valpy FitzGerald, Department of International Development Professor Ian Goldin, Oxford Martin School (chair) Professor Peter Tufano, Said Business School Professor Adrian Wood , Department of International Development Professor Sir Adam Roberts, Centre for International Studies (Please note Prof Sir Adam Roberts is replacing Prof Ngaire Woods)

Lecture summary: 'The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity'.

Sachs argues that for the U.S. to regain sound fiscal health the country must also reform its politics. While economic recovery necessitates coming to terms with global realities, America must also rein in lobbyists' power and political spin and limit corporate contributions. Sachs explains why the complexity of the world economy means that the American form of capitalism, with a hands-off government allowing market forces to govern the economic realm, guarantees a future of instability. He tells us why we must agree on a role for government in the equation and reach a consensus on the values that unite us as citizens of the world.

Biography: Professor Jeffrey Sachs is the Director of the Earth Institute and Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University. He is also Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the Millennium Development Goals, designed to reduce extreme poverty, disease, and hunger by the year 2015. He has twice been named among the 100 most influential leaders in the world by Time magazine, and is sought worldwide for his economic advice and his unique capacity and global experience in complex economic problem solving.

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