Paul Shelley, policy manager for the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries reports from the 2012 Life Conference in Brussels
On 8 October, the Profession was delighted to welcome Jeremy Peat OBE (pictured), director of the David Hume Institute, to deliver this year's Autumn Lecture to a sell-out audience in Edinburgh. Against a backdrop of slower growth, demographic change and depleting resources, Peat discussed the effect this might have on households and businesses. He also referenced some of the fiscal challenges that the UK will continue to face post-recession.
The discussion covered potential consequences for the eurozone, the need for financial education and the costs of government policies, such as bus passes and the winter fuel allowance for the elderly.
Sarah Mathieson, policy manager at the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, said, "One of the key messages was Peat's belief in evidence-based policy making and the need for robust and transparent analysis. This resonates with the Profession's approach to policy discussions with external stakeholders and our desire to encourage a research agenda that supports this."
The lecture, which qualifies for CPD, is now available online at bit.ly/RKHmaE