The Marett Memorial Lecture of 2024

“What is ‘distributive labour’? Debt, work, and welfare” by Professor Deborah James (London School of Economics)

Presented by Exeter College in association with the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford

Friday 25 October 2024

5pm

Fitzhugh Auditorium, Cohen Quadrangle, Exeter College

This lecture explores the interaction between debt, work and welfare. It sees debt as part of a complex matrix, rather than as a single-stranded phenomenon that, as an outcome of financialization, has turned welfare into debtfare and welfare beneficiaries into repayers. Instead, they need to be understood in relation to other, broader factors that make their search for a viable livelihood possible and that enable their life in society.

The lecture draws attention to interactions among a nexus of relationships through which people seek out such a living: from the private or state institutions (or individuals) from whom they borrow money and to which (or whom) they owe it; those in market or state settings who employ them and pay their remuneration; and the government bureaucracies, non-governmental organisations or charitable institutions through which they seek, and sometimes find, social protection. Often the three are almost indistinguishably interwoven.

No booking is required, and a drinks reception will follow the lecture at 6pm.

Exeter College alumni, students, Fellows and staff are all most welcome to attend.