Fri 19th March - How can we justify the inheritance tax?

In this week's Happy Hour, Oliver will inquire whether we can find justifications for the inheritance tax, a question recently debated in the UK general election campaign, taking it into a wider reflexion about filiation, merit and social mobility.

Please have a look at the background readings:

• A political analysis of the Conservatives' proposal to increase the inheritance tax threshold
  
• Thomas Piketty on the "Long run evolution of inheritance in France"
  
• Gordon Tullock in a justification of inheritance
  
• John Stuart Mill on the principles that should guide inheritance laws
  
• Some background on current UK inheritance tax legislation and on the debts left by a defunct
  

As usual, we will meet at 6pm over drinks and nibbles in STICERD common area.

Fri 12th March - Women's reservation in the Indian Parliament

This week, Prakarsh will introduce the question of women's reservation in the Indian Parliament. What does it change? Is it beneficial? What level should we have?

A few suggested background readings:

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8557237.stm
• Chattopadhyay and Duflo (2004)
• Ban and Rao (2008)

As usual we meet on Friday 6pm in STICERD common area.

Fri 5th March - From Alaska to Ethiopia: is it right for countries to sell their land?

In this week's EOPP Happy Hour, Philippe will start the discussion on whether countries should be authorised to sell their land., and the problem of land-grabbing by foreign interests.
Further readings here:

• Website on the "land grab": http://farmlandgrab.org/
• David Barker: "Was Alaska a good deal?"

We will meet as usual in STICERD common area at 6pm.