Speakers
Rt Hon Baroness Gillian Shephard, Deputy Chair, Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission
Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive, NCT
Matthew Oakley, Head of Economic Analysis, Which?
Emran Mian, Director, Social Market Foundation
Chair
Anne McElvoy, Economist and Evening Standard
Riders on the Storm is a new SMF report which explores the experience of middle income households in the UK throughout the financial crisis.
In the lead up to the general election in 2015, political leaders are all focused on restoring the living standards of the middle class. But are the middle really under the epic pressure that some suggest? While previous analysis of the “squeezed middle” has tended to capture snapshots only, new work by the Social Market Foundation draws on the British Household Panel and Understanding Society surveys, and follows specific households through time, from the brink of the downturn in 2007-08 to 2011-12. It identifies changes in income, employment, happiness and satisfaction, as well as how they have adapted to costs such as childcare.
At this launch event we will present the findings of our report, examine whether the squeeze on living standards has been exaggerated, and ask if the best thing that politicians can do for middle income households is helping them to help themselves by promoting greater competition in consumer markets.
This launch event will take the form of a panel discussion (starting 18.30) followed by a drinks reception (from 19.45).
See our Storify for all the coverage of the launch here.