Economics and Politics at Buckingham Economics and Politics Newsletter | Spring 2018 Economics Debate 2018 On 19 February 2018 students from the pros and cons of devaluing the pound University of Buckingham Economics and sterling and, of course, Brexit. Judges International Studies Department had included the IEA’s Head of Education Dr the pleasure of attending the semi-final Steve Davies, Senior Economist at Oxford of the Economics Debate 2018, a national Economics Carlos de Sousa, and leading competition for universities which the British economist John Kay. IEA co-organises with UCL’s Economist’s The debates were fiercely competed Society each year. by well-rehearsed students who ensured University of Buckingham students the night was highly educational. joined university economics societies The students from the University of from all over the UK in the debating Buckingham made comments and competition covering economic issues asked questions of the competitors and and ideas. Present were university teams the whole experience was thoroughly from Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, LSE, inspiring. Plans were made to enter Oxford, UCL and Warwick. Cash prizes, a team from our University in future internships and awards were up for grabs competitions. The students were all for the winning teams. grateful to the department for the There was a wide range of debated experience. topics, from creation and destruction Shayne Tshabalala of jobs by artificial intelligence to the International Studies Economics and Politics Newsletter | Spring 2018 Buckingham top for free speech Spiked magazine has once again ranked approve. If we don’t like something we Buckingham in the top category for free turn it into action, as the US Supreme speech, something it shares with only six Court does when it labels speech ‘fighting other universities, out of a total of 115. words’. Spiked’s methodology has been criticised Nobody who has seriously studied it – it relies heavily on university policy thinks free speech should be unlimited, documents and is accused of taking but its defenders presume it is of very incidents out of context – but in the four high value and reasons for limiting it must years it has been producing the table be principled and compelling. it has at least provoked a debate about At Buckingham we are proud of the fact campus speech. that we encourage students to think for In the 1990s literary theorist Stanley themselves and express their views. Fish wrote an essay entitled ‘There is For the full results and methodology: no such thing as free speech, and it’s a http://www.spiked-online.com/ good thing too’. Fish argued what we call free-speech-university-rankings#. free speech is simply that of which we WrPVdZVLHcs Cuba trip - September 2018 The Department of Politics is organising a study visit to Cuba led by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, who is the Assistant Director of the International Institute for the Study of Cuba and lectures on Latin American Politics in the University. Stephen has been visiting Cuba since 1987 and has led more than twenty study tours to the island. The visit will deepen participants’ understanding of politics, economics and international relations as well as expand their knowledge of Cuba and its unique character and history. Above: Dr Stephen Wilkinson 2 Economics and Politics Newsletter | Spring 2018 BUCSIS alumnus visits White House Our former MA Security & Intelligence student Alexander Oberkersch is currently Buckingham University Centre for interning at the Embassy of Austria in Security and Intelligence Studies has Washington DC. In his capacity as an recorded its highest ever number of intern he is writing reports and briefings students since its creation in 2008. Our for the Ambassador and other decision influence across the globe continues makers. He is attending several security to expand: this year we welcomed our and defence related Think Tanks and most multinational cohort of students is representing the Republic of Austria since we began, with candidates from at various meetings. He has benefitted Canada to Cambodia. Later this year greatly from report writing and analytical we will be opening up two major new exercises during his Master degree at the programmes in Security and Intelligence University of Buckingham and remains Studies. There will be a new BA in in close contact with teaching staff and Security, Intelligence and Cyber, the other former students. Upon invitation first of its type in the UK, and also a from United States Congressman Robert new Postgraduate Certificate in Law Above: Dr Stephen Wilkinson Pittenger of North Carolina, he had the Enforcement Security and Intelligence, chance to visit the White House. a distance-learning programme. 3 Economics and Politics Newsletter | Spring 2018 UN Centre launched The University has launched the first • Receive guest lecturers seconded centre dedicated to United Nations from the UN for limited periods. Studies in the UK. The UN remains one • Develop an internship programme. of the central pillars of the post-Second • Create a media unit to publicise the World War order and for the peoples and work of the Centre. nations of the Global South in particular, • Put on a seminar series with it is an important institution through distinguished visiting speakers. which peace, justice and sustainable • Enable students to visit the UN in development can be achieved. The United Geneva, the International Maritime Nations will celebrate its 75th anniversary Organisation in London and other UN in 2020, yet today finds itself facing agencies such as WHO, ILO, UNCTAD major new challenges that threaten to (Geneva), FAO (Italy). undermine its ability to effect the changes Under the leadership of Mark Seddon that Member States expect it to deliver (former speech-writer to Secretary- and that people want. In concrete terms it General Ban Ki-moon) and Paul Graham is envisaged that the Centre will: (Head of Politics) the aim is to make • Offer teaching on the UN. the Centre the premier place to go in • Develop a research agenda with Europe for expertise on the UN. For more policy papers. information please contact Paul Graham • Establish a programme of visiting fellows. ([email protected]) 4 Economics and Politics Newsletter | Spring 2018 Institute of Economic Affairs THINK 2018 INTERNSHIPS 2018 Tickets are now on sale for the IEA’s Each year the IEA welcomes more THINK Conference 2018, and you can buy than 80 interns from around the world them for a discounted early bird price for a packed programme, of lectures, for a limited time only! THINK is the top seminars, debates, discussions, events economics conference for 16-25-year-olds and social activities, which is aimed at in the UK and is happening on Saturday university students. Each intern produces 30th June this year! The IEA is very excited a supervised research project, chosen by to announce that some of the biggest themselves with guidance from senior IEA names in economics will feature this year research staff. To apply, please send a CV including best-selling author Tim Harford, and short covering letter to Christiana renowned economics broadcaster Dr Stewart-Lockhart at internships@iea. Linda Yueh, The Economist’s Deputy org.uk, explaining why you would like an Editor Tom Standage, international internship, your research topic interest economist Dr Dambisa Moyo, a Nobel and which dates are best suited for you. Prize-winning economist and many more…! Plus each THINK ticket includes a free copy of Tim Harford’s new book! 5 Economics and Politics Newsletter | Spring 2018 The Institute of International Monetary Research Recent news 25th April at Prebend House from 1pm- Recently we were delighted to join our 3pm. Email gail.grimston@buckingham. students in celebrating their graduation. ac.uk to guarantee your FREE beverage. Congratulations to Kirill, Anna, Alicia and We look forward to seeing you there. others on your great achievement. Internships at the IIMR Upcoming events Internships at the Institute provide a We have exciting news! The Institute of great opportunity for students interested Monetary Research are giving enthusiastic in monetarism, monetary research or students with an interest in money, seeking a career in money, banking or banking or central banking the opportunity central banking. You will be learning to hear more about our amazing MSc from the likes of Juan Castaneda and Tim programme we host here at Prebend Congdon who have years of experience House. The event will take place on the in the field. Rizky Wibisono, who recently Dr Juan Castenada with IIMR intern Kirill Rodin 6 Economics and Politics Newsletter | Spring 2018 started at the institute in March, says it’s been everything he hoped for: “Juan Meet our Casteneda (my personal tutor and new professor director of the IIMR) introduced me to the IIMR and I’ve been fascinated ever since.” We welcome internship applications from those who wish to collaborate with us on future projects. If you are interested please email [email protected]. Monthly Monetary Updates Every month the Institute produces a series of notes analysing the latest monetary trends in the world’s largest economies – the USA, China, Japan, Professor Matthias Klaes joined the India, the UK and the Eurozone – along department in 2018 as the Nigel with an accompanying video. Videos Vinson Chair of Political Economy and accompanying updates can all be and Director of the Vinson Centre. found on our website mv-pt.org/monthly- Professor Klaes is an economist monetary-update. Please subscribe to our with an interest in the changing newsletter at: [email protected]. technologies of commerce. A specialist in questions of economic Our MSc programme governance and accountability, his The MSc programme in Money, Banking work covers transaction costs, online and Central Banking offers specialised financial intermediation, behavioral teaching in banking, financial markets, and institutional economics, and monetary policies and central banks.