Call for Papers: Inaugural UK Modern Monetary Theory Conference – The University of Leeds

 

July 15-17, 2024

FINAL CALL FOR PAPERS – DEADLINE EXTENDED

(New Submissions Deadline: Thursday, March 28, 2024)

We have extended the deadline for the submission of abstracts until the 28th of March, 2024. Please find all the relevant information regarding submission in our Call for Papers below.

We are thrilled to announce an outstanding lineup of confirmed attendees for our event:

• Warren Mosler
• L Randall Wray
• Stephanie Kelton
• Pavlina Tcherneva
• Scott Fullwiler
• Mat Forstater
• Dirk Ehnts
• Agustin Mario

This event is open to all interested in MMT, not just those presenting and tickets are now on sale. Enter the code EARLYBIRD to get a £5 discount.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Leeds in July!

Call for Papers:

We welcome academics, students, activists and any other persons who would like to present a new or existing paper, or share preliminary thoughts about MMT.

The programme includes a full day of workshops and discussion groups to allow interaction between the participants. If it’s MMT-related and you want to work through something with like-minded people and the MMT founders, this is your opportunity!

Send your abstracts, outlines, poster sessions and talk suggestions (600 words maximum) to abstracts@mmtconference.uk

Key Dates: 

Please submit abstracts by March 28, 2024. Decisions will be announced by email by mid April. Sessions will be formed in May, and the programme will be announced in late May.

Registration:

Tickets for the event are now on sale.

The Presenter registration deadline is May 7, 2024.

Registration will close on June 14, 2024 at the latest.

Conference Fees:

All presenters and participants are expected to register and pay fees to participate in the conference, including those invited to attend.

Payment is in sterling using Visa/Mastercard. A purchase order option is available, but tickets are allocated once payment is received.

£280 – Standard registration for academics

£180 – Registration for academics whose institutions are in the Global South

£40 – Non-associated individuals, current students and recent PhDs (earned November 1, 2023 or later)

The registration fee includes:

• a note of your associated academic institution
• admission to all sessions across all three days
• coffee breaks
• buffet lunch
• our eternal thanks and gratitude

Register on the website if you are registering in your name with a credit or debit card.

If you are registering on behalf of another person attending (i.e. admin or finance staff), and wish to pay by invoice rather than payment card, send your purchase order to orders@mmtconference.uk. Tickets will only be allocated when the invoice is settled by Bank transfer.

Original Call

Background:

The Gower Initiative for Modern Money Studies was launched in 2018 and is part of an international movement challenging the economic orthodoxy of the last four decades. Its founders came together through a common concern that the dominant economics of our day is deeply flawed.

To that end, the primary aim of GIMMS is education that provides the tools to enable people to understand that the state of the public finances per se is not a limiting factor in government spending, and that the central question revolves around the development and distribution of real resources, along with the political nature of those decisions.

GIMMS’ mandate is to challenge the household budget narrative of the state finances that dominates the daily political and media discourse and to encourage a discussion about the full range of government’s priorities and policy options and how best they can serve the public purpose.

The Gower Initiative for Modern Money Studies is delighted to announce the inaugural UK Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) Conference to be held at The University of Leeds from July 15 to 17, 2024.

This groundbreaking event will feature Warren Mosler, author of ‘Soft Currency Economics’ (1993), the publication of which became the basis for what has become popularised as Modern Monetary Theory. Warren will be our special guest and the first-day keynote speaker, and will attend all three days, participating and providing critical analysis in multiple sessions.

Call for Papers:

Scholars, researchers, and practitioners are invited to submit papers on themes consistent with MMT understanding of economic thought with a particular emphasis on critical reviews of Warren Mosler’s economic insights and published work available to view via Mosler Economics

The first day of the conference will be dedicated to papers reviewing and critically engaging with Mosler’s extensive body of work. Suggested topics for critical evaluation are:

• Price anchor theory and its history
• Ramifications of modelling of the currency as a public monopoly
• Zero interest rate policy (ZIRP)
• Interest rate policy dynamics as related to the level of public debt and international trade
• Real terms of trade and employment policy
• Full employment and price stability
• Critical analysis of the differences between inflation as academically defined and price increases
• Exchange rate policy and employment
• Bank regulation and public purpose
• The role of and options for taxation.

The second day of the conference welcomes academic papers that align with MMT principles on a broader spectrum. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• Taxing authority, unemployment and fiscal policy
• The role of central banks
• The dynamics of floating vs fixed exchange rates in a multi-currency world
• The source of the price level, and consequences of changes in the price level
• Sustaining full employment under real resource constraints
• Financial regulations and public purpose
• The Truss budget and LDI scandal from an MMT viewpoint

Abstracts of 300 to 600 words for both critical evaluations of Mosler’s work and general MMT-consistent papers should be submitted by March 28, 2024.

Third Day – Practical Application of MMT to Real-World Policies:

The third day of the conference shifts focus to the practical application of MMT insights to real-world policies. This day is designed to be inclusive of diverse disciplines. We warmly invite contributors to engage in workshops and breakout sessions, fostering collaborative discussions on matters pivotal to contemporary challenges. Some key areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Energy self-sufficiency, sustainability and productivity
• Analysis of the real resource constraints on the NHS
• Questions surrounding and proposals regarding housing availability and affordability
• Defining and achieving productivity and investment
• Analysis of the political engagement of MMT

Further suggestions for workshops, short presentations and breakout sessions should be submitted by March 28, 2024.

This inclusive day is a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration, where diverse perspectives can converge to explore how MMT understandings can contribute practically to addressing the pressing challenges of our time. Join us in shaping a dialogue that bridges the theoretical foundations of MMT with the tangible applications needed to drive meaningful change.

Submission Guidelines:

We look forward to an enriching exchange of ideas, critiques, and practical applications during this three-day event. Join us in advancing the discourse on Modern Monetary Theory and exploring its potential impact on shaping economic policies.

To send abstracts and suggestions for workshops, short presentations and breakout sessions, please email abstracts@mmtconference.uk

For further information, please email info@mmtconference.uk