Billions of people have been lifted out of poverty, spurred by rapid developments in science and technology. However, in the last decade, there has been growing concern about whether we can continue to advance at the same pace.

The rate of scientific progress is slowing down, while productivity is stagnating in many developed economies. There are many fixes suggested – housing policy, taxes, simpler regulation, immigration – but successive governments seem unable to deliver the changes needed to encourage growth. At the same time, some are asking whether we even want to continue to chase the traditional ideal of progress. There are now significant strains of thought that believe for the sake of the environment, for greater equality, and for people’s happiness, we should pursue other priorities.

Thus, The Great Stagnation Summit aimed to explore the reasons behind economic stagnation in richer liberal democracies and to identify and champion solutions for a more prosperous future. As our world grapples with the challenges of stagnating growth, widening inequality, and the rise of frontier technologies, this conference brought together influential decision-makers and experts from across the political spectrum to look at how we can work together to tackle one of the biggest challenges of the century.

Ian Leslie, Conflicted: Why Arguments Are Tearing Us Apart and How They Can Bring Us Together