The Social Policy Association’s Tax and Social Policy Group is holding its annual conference on the theme of Poverty and Tax in December. The event is free, and participation is not confined to group or SPA members.
The conference will take place:
Date: Friday 5th December 2025
Time: 10.45am to 3.45pm
Venue: Technology and Innovation Centre, Strathclyde University, 99 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RD.
Registration and practical arrangements
Please register by 20th November via Eventbrite:
The space has been booked from 9am and attendees are welcome to arrive any time after that. The conference centre has somewhere to leave bags, and tea and coffee are available for purchase by early birds. Lunch will be provided.
Speakers
Mike Brewer, Chief Economist and Deputy Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation
Sara Cowan, Director of the Scottish Women’s Budget Group
Elaine Maag, Senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, Washington DC, and a co-director of Innovations in Cash Assistance for Children
Micheal Collins, Assistant Professor of Social Policy at University College Dublin
Emma Congreve, Principal Knowledge Exchange Fellow and Deputy Director at the Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde
Adrian Sinfield, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, Edinburgh University
Schedule for the day
| Time | Session | Speaker |
| 10.30 – 11.00 | Arrival | |
| 11.00 – 11.05 | Welcome and housekeeping | TBC |
| 11.05 – 11.45 | Why it’s hard to feel confident working on (and teaching) taxation | Emma Congreve (in person) |
| 11.45 – 12.30 | History of taxation in the management of poverty
& thoughts on the UK budget |
Mike Brewer (in person)
|
| 12.30 – 13.30 | Lunch | |
| 13.30 – 14.10 | What can the UK learn from other countries?
|
Elaine Maag – United States (remote)
Micheal Collins – Ireland (in person) |
| 14.10- 14.45 | How tax design can affect different groups of people in and at risk of poverty | Sara Cowan (in person) |
| 14.45 – 15.30 | Panel session – What are the constraints and what are the priorities for policy, lobbying, action, research in relation to the fiscal requirements of poverty reduction?
|
Mike Brewer (in person)
Micheal Collins (in person)
Sarah Cowen (in person)
Adrian Sinfield (in person) |
| 15.30-15.40 | Closing remarks | |
| Afterwords | Networking | Venue TBC |
Support
The Tax and Social Policy Group are grateful to the Social Policy Association for funding this event. The Policy Group may be able to offer a small travel subsidy to PhD students on a first some, first serve basis.
The room is accessible by wheelchair. If you have any dietary requirements, please contact Emma Congreve at emma.j.congreve@strath.ac.uk .
For any other queries, please contact Sally Ruane at sruane@dmu.ac.uk .