Anna Killick author talk - Rigged: Understanding ‘the economy’ in Brexit Britain

In this MUP Armchair Event, Anna Killick – author of Rigged: Understanding 'the economy' in Brexit Britain – discusses the ways in which we have come to understand 'the economy'. In Brexit Britain, talk of 'the economy' dominates; however, we know surprisingly little about how people understand this term. In the aftermath of the 2008 crash and decades of neoliberalism, how are understandings of 'the economy' changing, and is it the case that Remain supporters care more about 'the economy' than Leave supporters? This timely and insightful book argues that people with similar experiences of the economy share an understanding of the term, regardless of whether they supported Leave or Remain. Through extensive ethnographic research in a city on the South coast of England, Anna Killick explores what people from a range of backgrounds understand about key aspects of 'the economy', including employment, austerity, trade and the economic effects of migration. 'Essential reading for anyone interested in how economics is perceived, and more specifically in why half the country voted for Brexit. Easy to read and free from jargon, this study lets its subjects do the talking.' Simon Wren-Lewis, Emeritus Professor of Economics and Fellow of Merton College, University of Oxford 'A stunning achievement and a very, very important book. Killick produces a series of invaluable insights into two of the most under-asked questions in contemporary British politics: what do people mean when they talk about "the economy" and do they think they get their fair share from it? The answers reveal much about the divisions of post-Brexit Britain.' Matthew Watson, Professor of Political Economy, University of Warwick Anna Killick is a Research Fellow in the Department of Political Science at University College London. https://manchesteruniversitypress.co....