The Good (Inaugural lecture)
Apr
07
05:00 PM - 05:45 PM
Video
How much inequality should a society tolerate?
Should groceries remain affordable even if it means underpaying the people who stock the shelves? Should access to global markets justify job losses in struggling regions? And how much should a society be willing to give up, economically, to ensure a fairer distribution of income? These kinds of questions lie at the heart of major policy decisions. Again and again, societies are forced to weigh economic efficiency against fairness. But what makes one outcome better than another – and who gets to decide? These are the kinds of questions that drive the research of Maya Eden.
Should groceries remain affordable even if it means underpaying the people who stock the shelves? Should access to global markets justify job losses in struggling regions? And how much should a society be willing to give up, economically, to ensure a fairer distribution of income? These kinds of questions lie at the heart of major policy decisions. Again and again, societies are forced to weigh economic efficiency against fairness. But what makes one outcome better than another – and who gets to decide? These are the kinds of questions that drive the research of Maya Eden.
Overview
Maya Eden's research addresses critical areas of economics, focusing on welfare economics, macroeconomics and the normative analysis of economic policy. Her work aims to understand how economic systems and policies can improve societal well-being and offers insights into the ethical and practical implications of policy making. She explores the dynamics of monetary policy and assesses its impact on economic stability and growth and examines labor market behavior, including employment trends, wage formation and mobility. In addition, she examines the drivers of long-term economic development and thus contributes to growth economics. In her research, Eden combines theoretical approaches with applied analysis to advance our understanding of key economic mechanisms and their policy implications.
Studies in economics can inform policy makers and the public about the likely consequences of different courses of action. However, the choice of which policy to pursue often ultimately depends on value judgements, which are subject to debate. This lecture argues that economic and mathematical reasoning are powerful tools for making progress on these debates. Building on shared ethical principles, we can use rigorous analysis to obtain nontrivial implications, bringing us closer to resolutions of contentious issues, such as: How much redistribution should we have? How proactive should we be in curbing climate change? How should we respond to the current demographic transition?
Newly appointed professors get an opportunity to hold an inaugural lecture within a year of their appointment. This presentation offers a fascinating insight into their research. The lectures are open to the public and followed by a cocktail reception in the UZH Lichthof. The events are centrally organised by the University of Zurich.
Maya Eden's research addresses critical areas of economics, focusing on welfare economics, macroeconomics and the normative analysis of economic policy. Her work aims to understand how economic systems and policies can improve societal well-being and offers insights into the ethical and practical implications of policy making. She explores the dynamics of monetary policy and assesses its impact on economic stability and growth and examines labor market behavior, including employment trends, wage formation and mobility. In addition, she examines the drivers of long-term economic development and thus contributes to growth economics. In her research, Eden combines theoretical approaches with applied analysis to advance our understanding of key economic mechanisms and their policy implications.
Studies in economics can inform policy makers and the public about the likely consequences of different courses of action. However, the choice of which policy to pursue often ultimately depends on value judgements, which are subject to debate. This lecture argues that economic and mathematical reasoning are powerful tools for making progress on these debates. Building on shared ethical principles, we can use rigorous analysis to obtain nontrivial implications, bringing us closer to resolutions of contentious issues, such as: How much redistribution should we have? How proactive should we be in curbing climate change? How should we respond to the current demographic transition?
Speaker
Professor of Economics
Professor of Economics
Venue
Universität Zürich
KOL-G-201, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zürich
(Google Maps)