Bennett Institute for Public Policy Annual Conference 2025

• Prof Sharon Peacock, Master, Churchill College
• Prof Michael Kenny, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge
• Peter Bennett, Founding Benefactor, Peter Bennett Foundation

With the complexity of policy issues seemingly ever increasing, what reforms does government need to undertake if it is to fully get to grips with issues in areas like climate change, mental health,  and food security? Whilst there has been mounting recognition of the ‘wicked’ nature of these problems, there is much less certainty on what the solutions might be, and what the role of government might be in providing them. Should we accept that wicked problems are now simply too big to solve, or do we require a new leap of imagination to conjure solutions that match the complexity of the problems themselves?

• Prof Laura Diaz Anadon, Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, and Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge
• Prof Shailaja Fennell, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge
• Prof Gordon Harold, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge
• Chair: Prof Dennis Grube, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge

There will also be the opportunity to chat with our researchers about their work which contributes to informed decision-making processes at different levels of governance and society.

Both Europe and the UK share common challenges, such as weak productivity growth, and sliding competitiveness, together with broader concerns such as climate change and weak defence spending in a worsening geopolitical environment. For all of these issues, greater investment has been identified as a fundamental tool. Several questions remain unanswered however: what share of the investment gap can credibly be filled by the public sector? Are flanking reforms needed to ensure money is well spent, and to crowd in private investment? How does this interact with fiscal rules, when the world is reaching all-time-high public debt levels?

• Prof Diane Coyle, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge
• Prof Flavio Toxvaerd, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge
• Prof Guntram Wolff, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Bruegel
• Chair: Dr Alessio Terzi, Department of Politics & International Studies, University of Cambridge

There will also be the opportunity to chat with our researchers about their work which contributes to informed decision-making processes at different levels of governance and society.

Work is much more than a means to an end—it shapes our identity, values, social status, and how we spend our lives. As a central principle of society, work underpins individual wellbeing, collective resilience, and societal progress. Yet the nature of work is undergoing profound changes, driven by technological advances, shifting societal values and the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, the UK’s longstanding productivity challenge remains unresolved. This panel will explore how we can balance productivity, fairness, and wellbeing to create work that is sustainable, meaningful, and productive for individuals, organisations, and society.

• Kate Bell, Trade Union Congress (TUC)
• Prof Brendan Burchell, Faculty of Human, Social and Political Sciences, University of Cambridge
• Sarah O’Connor, Financial Times
• Chair: Dr Nina Jörden, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge

There will also be the opportunity to chat with our researchers about their work which contributes to informed decision-making processes at different levels of governance and society.

Have western governments got a handle on the root causes of the inequalities creating deep disenchantment and occasional citizen unrest in hinterland places and poorer communities? What kinds of policy tools and interventions are most likely to address these factors? What can be learned from central, regional and local government initiatives since the mid-2000s? Is devolution an important part of the answer? This panel will explore these issues, looking in-depth at the UK’s recent experience and considering trends across western Europe. Do liberal democracies have the right kinds of policy tools and ambition to move the dial on geographically rooted inequalities?

• Prof Andres Rodriguez-Pose, London School of Economics
• Jessica Studdert, New Local
• Tom Walker, Essex County Council
• Chair: Prof Michael Kenny, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge

Much like a viral contagion, misinformation can spread rapidly from one mind to another.  Inoculation theory offers a natural basis for developing a psychological ‘vaccine’ against the spread of fake news and misinformation. Specifically, I’ll show that it is possible to pre-emptively “immunize” people against disinformation by pre-exposing them to severely weakened doses of the techniques that underlie its production. This process of ‘prebunking’ helps people cultivate cognitive antibodies in both simulated and real social media environments. I’ll showcase several interventions we developed and evaluated—with public health authorities and social media companies—to help citizens around the world recognize and resist unwanted attempts to manipulate and mislead.

• Prof Sander van der Linden, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge
• Chair: Prof Diane Coyle, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge

Prof Diane Coyle, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge