Europe is facing sluggish growth with near deflation and growing inequalities. The main challenge in the coming years is how economic growth can be reconciled with social progress. This question will be at the heart of a conference held by Progressive Economy – an initiative of the Socialists and Democrats Group – on Wednesday 4 March 2015 in the European Parliament in Brussels.

European commissioner Pierre Moscovici, Luxembourg minister of labour, employment and social economy Nicolas Schmitt, member of the German Council of Economic Experts Peter Bofinger and S&D Group vice-president for economic and monetary affairs Maria João Rodrigues will be among the key speakers.

The conference is open to the press and will be webstreamed live on the S&D Group’s website: www.socialistsandemocrats.eu

This high-level debate will be preceded by a presentation on the Independent Annual Growth Survey 2015 (iAGS) by its authors: Xavier Timbeau (OFCE), Andrew Watt (IMK) and Lars Andersen (ECLM). The iAGS provides alternative analysis and solutions to the challenges faced by European economies and citizens. The iAGS 2015 shows that since the beginning of the economic crisis inequality has risen across the EU and is now comparable with inequality levels in the US.

S&D Group spokeswoman for economic and monetary affairs Elisa Ferreira and S&D Group spokeswoman on social affairs Jutta Steinruck will also take part in the debate.

Conference on economic inequality – Reconciling economic growth and social progress: a challenge?

Wednesday, 4 March 2015 - 15:00 to 18:15
ATR Room 3G2
European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium

The full programme of the conference is available below

Note to editors:

Progressive Economy is an initiative launched in 2012 with a major objective: generating a public debate on economic, social and environmental policies at national, European and global levels. The initiative brings together academic experts and politicians to actively promote progressive thinking.