Across the UK, former industrial powerhouses, home to millions of people, fail to offer their citizens the skills and opportunities they need to prosper and fulfill the aspirations that they hold for themselves and their families. The persistent low economic mobility of UK workers looks likely to force policymakers to focus their efforts not only on the people of these cities, but potentially some specific places at the expense of others.

We were delighted to welcome Ed Glaeser, Professor of Economics at Harvard and author of Triumph of the City, to talk about the great comeback cities of the world and how their successes can inform policymakers today. The talk will be chaired by Newsnight economics editor Duncan Weldon.