Economics for the People: Inside Inequality

Is it becoming harder to afford a decent life in Canada—or does it simply feel that way?

What role do wealth and its distribution play in shaping a good and fair society? Is the growing gap between the 1% and the 99% inevitable?

Join us for a lively, accessible, and thought-provoking evening with SFU’s Mohsen Javdani, Associate Professor of Economics and Public Policy. Together, we will examine current trends in economic inequality and consider their far-reaching consequences.

Through storytelling, interactive polls, compelling data, and open discussion, the event explores how inequality shapes communities, democratic life, and everyday experiences, while also considering practical responses. Moving beyond a technical economics lecture, this event presents economics as a shared language—and a tool for collective understanding, imagination, and action.

Participants are invited to learn, question, and reflect on the kind of society we want, and what it may take to achieve it.

This event has interactive elements that involve using a mobile device. If you would like to take part in these activities please bring your mobile device.

The event will close with a short reception, featuring light refreshments.

explores critical community issues through dialogue. This annual program brings the wider community and the academic community together to examine local challenges and innovative responses through cross-sector dialogue.

This event also marks the first in a new initiative, — a multi-year series that convenes SFU and the broader community to strengthen public sense-making and civic discourse during a time of profound social, political, and ecological change. This initiative is supported in part by the North Family Foundation.

Co-presented with the .

As this event is free, and free events routinely have a high number of no-shows, it is our policy to overbook. In case of a full event, registration may not guarantee entry. Seating is limited and will be available to registered attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event will be hosted at the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at 580 W Hastings St.

Public and gender-neutral washrooms are available. All public washrooms are equipped with wheelchair accessible stalls.

If you require ASL intepreters for this event or have any other accessibility needs, please contact us at [email protected] at least one week before the event and we will try to accomodate this request.

Our community guidelines are intended to ensure the safety of all guest speakers and event participants, and to foster honest, socially accountable dialogue at our events. Thank you for respecting our community guidelines!

• Above all, there will be zero tolerance for those who promote violence or discrimination against others on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, or disability. Anyone who incites harm towards other participants (whether through chat, video, audio or otherwise) will be removed at the discretion of our technical team and moderator.
• Don’t assume pronouns/gender/knowledge based on someone’s name or appearance. Please refer to people using the usernames and/or pronouns they provide.
• Take space, make space: share your perspective, and make space for other voices to be heard too. Recognize that we are all here to learn.
• Practice self-care in whatever way you need to. If you need to get up or take a break, please do so.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher SFU Public Square