Contributor(s): Maria Luís Albuquerque | Following a difficult adjustment period, the Portuguese economy is now recovering and standing on more solid ground – sounder public finances, secured financial stability and growing competitiveness. Notwithstanding, given the magnitude of the economic imbalances accumulated before the crisis, the significant correction achieved in recent years was not yet sufficient to substantially reduce indebtedness and unemployment. While these remain as central challenges, they are also a constant reminder of the importance of keeping the current reform momentum. And keeping the current reform momentum is certainly the biggest opportunity for the future of the economy and of the country itself. It also demonstrates that one of the key lessons from the crisis was learned: prevention is less costly than correction. Thus, in order to consolidate recent results and move towards sustainable growth, the discipline and the determination that ensured the success of the adjustment must continue in all dimensions – both in good times and bad times. Maria Luís Albuquerque is the Portuguese Minister of State and Finance. The LSE European Institute (@LSEEI) was established in 1991 as a dedicated centre for the interdisciplinary study of processes of integration and fragmentation within Europe. In the most recent national Research Assessment Exercise, the Institute was ranked first for research in European Studies in the United Kingdom. The LSE European Institute has been a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence since 2009.

Contributor(s): Professor Sir Tony Atkinson, Tom Clark, Professor Baroness Lister | Introducing his new book, Inequality: what can be done?, Professor Atkinson will argue we can do much more about inequality than skeptics imagine. Tony Atkinson is a Centennial Professor at LSE and a Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford. Tom Clark (@guardian_clark) writes for The Guardian and is the author of Hard Times: the divisive toll of the economic slump. Ruth Lister is Baroness Lister of Burtersett and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at Loughborough University. Nicholas Stern is IG Patel Chair of Economics and Government at LSE and President of the British Academy. The Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) at LSE (@CASE_lse) focuses on the exploration of different dimensions of social disadvantage, particularly from longitudinal and neighbourhood perspectives, and examination of the impact of public policy. The LSE International Inequalities Institute (@LSEInequalities) will be formally launched in autumn 2015 and aims to become the world’s premier centre for inter-disciplinary research on inequalities, creating a centre of excellence that will pool and facilitate the best research within the School and across the world. As well as its research activity, the impact of Institute will be in informing and assessing policy solutions to address the problem of inequalities and the profound challenges to social cohesion, solidarity, social welfare and well-being.

Contributor(s): Andrew Palmer | Finance distorts behaviour and destroys economies, but it also solves society's biggest problems. A new wave of financial innovation is tackling everything from the threat of pandemics to the retirement crisis, from credit-starved borrowers to recidivism in prisons. Andrew Palmer (@palmerandrew) has worked at the Economist since 2007; as the banking correspondent from 2007-2009, the finance editor from 2009­-2013 and currently as head of data journalism. He has a master's degree in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This event marks the publication of his new book, Smart Money. Andrea Vedolin is Assistant Professor of Finance in the Department of Finance and a Research Associate in the Systemic Risk Centre at LSE. The Systemic Risk Centre (@LSE_SRC) investigates the risks that may trigger the next financial crisis and develops practical tools to help policy-makers and private institutions become better prepared. Credits: Tom Sturdy (Audio Post-Production), LSE AV Services (Audio Recording).

Contributor(s): Oystein Olsen, Dr Sushil Wadhwani | The past decade shows how monetary policy and financial stability are interlinked. In recent years, Norges Bank has been one of few central banks where the risk of a build-up of financial imbalances has played an explicit role in monetary policy. Norges Bank was also one of the first to establish an analytical framework for the Basel III macroprudential countercyclical capital buffer. The Governor, Øystein Olsen, will discuss both analytical and organisational aspects of integrating monetary policy and financial stability and share experiences from Norges Bank so far. Øystein Olsen is the Governor of Norges Bank (Norway's central bank), a position he has held since 2011. Sushil Wadhwani is the founder of Wadhwani Asset Management LLP and a former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee. Dr Wadhwani was educated at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he obtained a BSc (Econ), MSc (Econ) and PhD (Econ). Sir Charles Bean is a Professor of Economics at LSE and a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England. The Systemic Risk Centre (@LSE_SRC) investigates the risks that may trigger the next financial crisis and develops practical tools to help policy-makers and private institutions become better prepared.

Contributor(s): Dr Fabienne Peter, Professor Catherine Rowett, Dr Stephen de Wijze | Is politics the instrument of moral ideals and values? Is it something like ‘applied morality’? In recent years there has been a revival of approaches which give greater autonomy to distinctively political thought, which can be called ‘political realism’, in contrast to ‘political moralism’. The panel discussion will explore this contrast, and ask whether political legitimacy is ultimately a question of one’s moral conception. Fabienne Peter is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick. Catherine Rowett (@catherinerowett) is Professor of Philosophy at the University of East Anglia and Green Party parliamentary candidate for South Norfolk. Stephen de Wijze is Senior Lecturer in Political Theory at the University of Manchester. Geoffrey Hawthorn is Emeritus Professor of International Politics and Emeritus Fellow at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge. The Forum for European Philosophy (@LSEPhilosophy) is an educational charity which organises and runs a full and varied programme of philosophy and interdisciplinary events in the UK.

Contributor(s): Matthew Crawford | Matthew Crawford will be in conversation with Professor Richard Sennett about his new book, The World Beyond Your Head: How to Flourish in an Age of Distraction, in which he investigates the challenge of mastering one's own mind. With ever-increasing demands on our attention, how do we focus on what's really important in our lives? Matthew Crawford is a philosopher and mechanic. He has a Ph.D. in political philosophy from the University of Chicago and served as a postdoctoral fellow on its Committee on Social Thought. Currently a senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, he also runs Shockoe Moto, a motorcycle repair shop. Richard Sennett is Director of Theatrum Mundi, University Professor of the Humanities at New York University and Professor of Sociology at LSE. Credits: Tom Sturdy (Audio Post-Production), LSE AV Services (Audio Recording).

Contributor(s): Jack Blumenau, Simon Hix, Tony Travers, Sue Cameron | The third of the general election debates, involving five opposition party leaders: Natalie Bennett (Greens), Nigel Farage (UKIP), Ed Miliband (Labour), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) and Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru) will be screened live at the LSE (from 8-9.30pm) and will be followed by a panel discussion involving LSE academics and the audience (from 9.30-10.30pm). LSE's Jack Blumenau, Simon Hix, Tony Travers and columnist and presenter Sue Cameron will be taking part in the post debate discussion. Jack Blumenau (@jblumenau) is a Managing Editor of LSE General Election 2015 blog and a PhD candidate in the Department of Government at LSE. Sue Cameron has been a columnist for The Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times and is a former presenter of Newsnight, Channel Four News and the ITN Parliament Programme. She is renowned for her contacts in Whitehall, and writes about the Government's relationship with the Civil Service. Simon Hix (@simonjhix) is Professor of European and Comparative Politics and Fellow of the British Academy and Head of Department of Government at LSE. Tony Travers is a visiting professor at LSE, and is a specialist in issues affecting local government. He is Director of the Greater London Group and British Government @ LSE. British Government @ LSE (@lsegovernment) is an initiative currently based in the Government Department to promote and develop research on British Government being conducted at the LSE. So far world class speakers have attended our events, talking on a range of topics.