Political Economy Futures Forum
About Us
The Political Economy Futures Forum (PEFF) is a sustained, self-aware community of researchers committed to addressing big, enduring questions about the relationship between the economy and society. We share a common research interest in political economy and its potential to build democratic, equitable, and sustainable economies and organizations. PEFF represents a University-wide platform for promoting political economy research and its role in tackling current and future challenges. As a College of Social Science Interdisciplinary Research Theme, we are a core strategic initiative at the University of Glasgow. PEFF is led and run by a team of early and mid-career scholars, and we aim to develop skills and capabilities for PGRs and early career researchers, as well as foster collaboration across the University. We hope to consolidate our shared expertise to establish and promote excellent research while generating wider societal benefits.
Latest News
Browse our latest events, project highlights and blog posts below. If you would like to feature your work on our page, please email socsci-interdisciplinary@glasgow.ac.uk.
Research Clusters
We work across four clusters, each contributing distinct perspectives on markets, politics, and society. All clusters are open to anyone.
Global Political Economy
This cluster promotes the work of Glasgow-based scholars committed to tackling global challenges through the lens of political economy. Political economy examines the links between states and markets. It conceives economic policies as the outcomes of political struggle between domestic interests and global forces, while at the same time acknowledging that political processes are influenced by economic power.
Corporate Accountability
This cluster draws on a transnational network of scholars and practitioners working on corporate regulation. Research in this cluster evaluates new regulatory approaches that seek to constrain corporate activities at a transnational level whether through international economic agreements or national laws that apply to corporations globally. These regulatory approaches target diverse areas of corporate conduct, including labour, the environment, taxation and human rights.
Law & Political Economy
Lead: Toni Marzal
This cluster focuses on the role of law and legal institutions in constituting markets, providing an alternative to neoclassical approaches such as ‘law and economics’. It emphasises the legal dimension to socioeconomic inequalities, and the possibilities of democratic contestation. The Glasgow Legal Theory Group already has an international reputation in this area, and the School of Law has a long experience hosting related events (such as the upcoming 2024 LPE summer academy).
Public & Collective Ownership
Scholars in this cluster are broadly interested in questions of economic democracy, exploring issues and processes including, but not limited to, de-privatisation and democratisation, governance, public finance and just transition, at the local, national and global level. The cluster has an international orientation, and draws on a global, pro-public network of researchers, activists and practitioners.
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