Policy Scotland hosted this Festival of Social Science event to connect the public and other groups with the academic evidence and arguments for and against radical policy changes that might solve problems arising from the COVID-19 crisis.

The event focused on three very relevant areas of policy – welfare, transport and urban economies – highlighting the work of three academic teams from the University of Glasgow.

• Professor Mark Stephens shared his research on Universal Basic Income, including his work modelling the impacts of a potential UBI.
• Dr David McArthur shared new evidence on sustainable transport and what it means for reshaping city centres as we know them.
• Dr David Waite explored how the COVID-19 crisis is shaping urban economies. He considered what may emerge from the crisis in terms of changing patterns of firm and worker behaviours and what options policymakers may choose to take in response.

This event was free and part of the University of Glasgow’s programme for the nationwide ESRC Festival of Social Science, held 7-15 November 2020