To open this year’s festival, Robert Chote is in conversation with Richard Davies, professor of Public Understanding of Economics, Bristol University and author of Extreme Economies. Chote was Chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the UK’s fiscal watchdog, from 2010 to 2020

They examine what’s different about this recession, and reflect on experiences in previous crises including the Sterling crash of 1992, and the financial collapse of 2008. They discuss Chote’s experience building and shaping the OBR. They talk about how taxation shapes our economy, by influencing the things people do and don’t do, and how we might want to re-shape our tax system in the future. And they debate the challenges of reporting and explaining economic issues to the public.

In our ninth Festival of Economics, co-programmed by Diane Coyle and Richard Davies, economists and experts from around the world debate with each other – and their audiences – some of the key economic questions of our time.

It’s important to us that ideas and debate are affordable to everyone. It’s also important that our commentators, artists, writers, poets and thinkers are paid. This is a Pay What You Can event. You are invited to choose your own contribution to the event, from £0 to £8. All proceeds go towards supporting our speakers and sustaining Festival of Ideas. The option to attend for free is available for all online events.