More e-commerce takes place in the British economy than in any other. Britain has embraced digital platforms, such as Uber, and is home to a rapidly growing digital economy.
However the effects of innovation can also be disruptive, rendering old skills and business models redundant. So how should the state respond?
In his Keith Joseph Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Centre for Policy Studies on Wednesday 8 June, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP will address the question of technological disruption. The Minister will set out the political and policy implications of an economy that is getting faster and more interconnected but also less predictable.
The Minister will respond both to those who argue that the digital revolution has been oversold, and to those who forecast a less secure future for the average worker. He will then explain how technological disruption relates to current debates on productivity, pay and the shape of the labour market.
In particular, the Minister will consider the question of social mobility, asking whether technological progress can be a force for social progress or whether it tends to concentrate wealth and power at the top.
In contrast to the pessimism of the populist Left and Right, he will argue for a distinctive Conservative approach that embraces the transformative power of technology, while supporting those whose livelihoods and communities are disrupted by change.
The Minister will suggest that if Conservatives get this right, they and Britain will be in a unique position to benefit from the coming revolution in the way we live and work.
The event will be livestreamed and placed on our YouTube.
Date Added: Tuesday 7th June 2016
