The COVID pandemic led to the largest economic shock in living memory. Cities such as London and New York have been hit badly, reversing 25 years of urban resurgence. Stories in the media talk of affluent city dwellers leaving for the countryside to take advantage of remote work opportunities, leaving low-wage workers working in the face to face economy stranded without employment. These changes will, if they persist, have significant long-term consequences for inequality both within and between urban areas. Will it exacerbate disparities between the richest and poorest cities? Will it lead to an exodus of affluent workers, stranding less well paid workers in local services. What will the long-term implications of the pandemic be for the future of cities? This event will bring together leading experts to discuss these questions.

Speakers: Professor Michael Storper (Department of Geography, LSE)
Dr Max Nathan (UCL Centre for Applied Spatial Analysis)
Dr Shauna Brail (Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto Mississauga), a Valentine Quinio (Centre for Cities)

Chair: Professor Neil Lee (Department of Geography, LSE; convenor of III research theme Cities, Jobs and Economic Change)