Everyday Economy Research Event

Register via Zoom

This event will be held on Zoom. Please register and a join link will be sent to you before the event.

What makes places ‘tick’? And is there a way to measure it?

There is growing recognition of the need to review and revise how we approach the economy. This is seen in current inquiries into socio-economic inequalities in the UK, and debates about ‘levelling-up’ across the country.

The ‘everyday economy’ consists of important activities, which generate value that adheres to places. It includes place-based services and social care, and ‘foundational’ work that supports community and provides the lifeblood of local economic activity.

But the value of ordinary place-based activities is easily overlooked, and ‘edge’ experiences can become invisible in statistical measures.

So, this event aims to encourage reflection on research on the everyday economy. It focuses on studies of the less-known dimensions of economic activity and the lived realities of everyday economic issues.

The panel of speakers will share their research and methodologies for studying the everyday economy and investigating life in ordinary places. They will give short talks on their own studies of economic pasts, present situations, and future options.

Timetable/Schedule

Open for Registration 10.45am

11:00am - 11:15am: Welcome

• Dr Lucy Natarajan - Introduction

11:15am - 11:35am: Place History

• Dr Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite (UCL History) - Oral History Interviews
• Prof John Tomaney (UCL Bartlett School of Planning) - Sacriston History

11:35am - 11:55am: Current Activities

• Dr Frances Holliss (London Metropolitan University) - Working from home
• Dr Maeve Blackman (Durham Miners Association & UCL Bartlett School of Planning) - Community networks

11:55am – 12:15am: Future Visions

• Dr Sara Hassan (University of Birmingham) - University-community research
• Dr Lucy Natarajan (UCL Bartlett School of Planning)  - Civil Society focus groups.

12:15pm - 1:00pm: Open to the ‘Zoom Floor’

• All participants Q&A and panel discussion 
• Poll & Wrap up

Participants at this Everyday Economy Research event will first hear about studies that have already been completed and then be invited to join in discussions with the panel.

The goal is to kick start knowledge exchange about the agency of research participants in shaping places. We hope to explore the power of understanding place-based economic experiences. This will set the scene for a second event (email us to be informed of details) about the role of everyday economy research decision-making.