How far should a government’ spending power by affected by social policy – and can such an approach be either efficient or legal?
These are some of the issues tackled by Christopher McCrudden, Professor of Human Rights Law at Oxford University, in an Achilles-sponsored seminar later this month.
‘Buying Social Justice’ is Professor McCrudden’s chosen topic in the latest of a series of seminars set up by the Oxford-Achilles Working Group on Corporate Social Responsibility.
According to Professor McCrudden, governments spend huge amounts of money buying goods and services from the private sector. How far, he asks, should their spending power be affected by social policy? Arguments against the practice are often made by economists - on the grounds of inefficiency - and lawyers - on the grounds of the need to comply with international economic law.
In his recently-published book, Buying Social Justice, he analyses how governments in both developed and developing countries use their contracting power in order to advance social equality and reduce discrimination, and argues that this approach can be a legitimate and effective means of achieving social justice. It is these issues that will be discussed at the seminar.
The event takes place on Thursday, October 11th, in seminar room B, Said Business School, Oxford University (close to Oxford railway station) from 12 noon-1.30pm. Admission is free.
To attend this free event, please contact laura.green@sbs.ox.ac.uk.