Income and wealth disparities are a prominent topic in American politics that raise important philosophical and policy questions. Should we address these inequalities? If so, why and how? Should a just society allow or encourage the accumulation of individual wealth? What are the potential benefits and risks associated with policies such as increased taxation on the wealthy, universal basic income, or a higher minimum wage that are designed to reduce income and wealth disparities?
To explore these questions, Davidson College’s Deliberative Citizenship Initiative, Center for Political Engagement, College Democrats, College Republicans, Philosophy Department, Political Science Department, and Economics Departments, invite you to join us for a Deliberative Forum on Income and Wealth Disparities on Tuesday, October 29, from 7 PM to 9 PM ET at the Lilly Gallery or online.
This Deliberative Forum will enable participants to actively engage with this important issue, first by hearing from a panel of experts and advocates with diverse perspectives on the topic. Then participants will actively deliberating with one another in facilitated small group discussions (either in person or virtually) about these questions. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from experts, listen to the viewpoints of others, and share your own ideas about this challenging and complex topic.
The event is free but registration is required. Click here to register. We request that all registrants plan to attend both the panel and the small group discussions, which are designed to complement each other. Participants may join both in-person and online. Spaces are limited due to the number of trained DCI facilitators we have available to moderate the small group discussions. The Zoom link will be sent to online participants after they register.
Our panel features the following experts who hold a range of perspectives on the topic of the forum. They include:
Robyn Lake Hamilton is the CEO and President of the Urban League of Central Carolinas, which is on advocating for and equipping African Americans and all underserved communities with the tools to achieve social and economic equality. Hamilton was recognized in 2024 with the Urban League Movement Champion Award for her leadership in housing and community development.
Jessica Flanigan is Professor of Leadership Studies and Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law, Richard L. Morrill Chair in Ethics & Democratic Values at the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies. Co-author of “Wealth without Limits: In Defense of Billionaires,” Flanigan has published in a wide range of academic journals and is a proponent of effective altruism.
Brian Balfour is Senior Vice President of Research at the John Locke Foundation. Balfour previously worked for the Civitas Institute for 13 years and specializes in fiscal policy issues. He is the author of the book “Economics in Action” and articles including “Higher Taxes Doesn’t Guarantee Better Services” and “Markets, Not Politics, Are the Real Problem Solver.”
Sean McKeever is Professor of Philosophy at Davidson College, where he has been a faculty member since 2005. He holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Co-author of the book, Principled Ethics: Generalism as a Regulative Ideal, McKeever’s academic focus is primarily in ethics, including topics such as metaethics and normative ethics.
The panel will be moderated by Doug Hicks, President of Davidson College and Professor of Religious Studies. President Hicks has a longstanding interest in income inequality, one of his nine books, published by Cambridge University Press, is Inequality and Christian Ethics. Hicks received an AB degree magna cum laude with honors in economics from Davidson, a Master of Divinity summa cum laude from Duke University, and MA and PhD degrees in religion from Harvard University.
This event is a chance to dive deep into pressing questions about economic inequality, hear from diverse panelists, and engage in lively discussions with fellow participants. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute your voice and insights on such an important topic. Click here to register, and we look forward to an engaging evening together!
