Social Ministerial

Policy Forum: Tackling inequality

Tackling Inequality

Which policies can promote both stronger and fairer economic growth?

2 May 2011, OECD Conference Centre, Paris

Documentation | Programme and statements

The Policy Forum provided an opportunity for the researchers, Ministers and representatives of the civil society to discuss the trend of high and increasing income inequality in many OECD countries and emerging economies and the way forward to a better sharing of the benefits of globalisation.

Questions for discussion at the Forum

How can we better share the benefits of economic globalisation and technological progress?

Which labour market and social policies (including taxes and transfers) will work best to reduce income and wealth inequalities in OECD countries and emerging economies and contribute to stronger and fairer economic growth, especially in an era of fiscal consolidation?

What role should in-kind services, such as health, education, housing and care services play in the reduction of inequalities?

Key note speaker:

Mr. Richard Freeman,

Professor of Economics at Harvard University, USA

Key note speaker:

Mr.François Bourguignon,

Director of the Paris School of Economics, France

Documentation on inequality

Issues Paper on Tackling Inequality (4-pager, .pdf)

Document on Drivers of growing inequalities (14 pages in .pdf)

More on OECD research on Income Distribution and Poverty via www.oecd.org/els/social/inequality

Programme and statements at the Policy Forum

Monday 2 May 2011
POLICY FORUM Tackling Inequality Which policies can promote both stronger and fairer economic growth?
9:00 - 9:30	Registration of participants
9:30 - 9:35	Welcome by Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD
9:35 - 9:40	Opening remarks by the Chair, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany
9:40 - 11:00	SESSION 1: Drivers and consequences of growing inequalities Chair: Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany
9:40 - 10:00	Keynote address by Mr. Richard Freeman, Professor of Economics at Harvard University, USA
10:00 - 10:30	Comments by three discussants: Mr. Rudolf Hundstorfer, Minister of Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, Austria [statement] Ms. Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Australia Mr. Stephen Pursey, Director of the Policy Integration Department and Senior Adviser to the Director-General, International Labour Organization [statement]
10:30 - 11:00	Discussion with the audience
11:00 - 11:30	Coffee break
11:30 - 13:00	SESSION 2: Remedies against growing inequalities – policy responses Chair: Mr. Felipe José Kast Sommerhoff, Minister of Planning, Chile
11:30 - 11:50	Keynote address by Mr. François Bourguignon, Director of the Paris School of Economics, France
11:50 - 12:20	Comments by three discussants: Mr. Alexander Gun, Deputy Director General of the Confederation of German Employers, Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC) Ms. Frances O’Grady, Deputy General Secretary, Trades Union Congress, Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) Mr. Ricardo Paes de Barros, Secretary of the Office of Strategic Action from the Secretariat for Strategic Affairs of the Presidency of Republic - Civil House, Brazil [presentation]
12:20 - 12:50	Discussion with the audience
12:50 - 13:00	Concluding remarks by Mr. John Martin, Director of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD

From left to right: Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General with
Ursula von der Leyen, Germany’s Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
at the OECD Policy Forum on Tackling Inequality

Registration

This OECD Forum was opened to public and media with an invitation with limited space. Please contact social.contact@oecd.org