History and Political Economy of Business and Finance

Introduction

The History and Political Economy (HYPE) of Business and Finance is a research cluster based in The Open University Business School. It brings together scholars who aim at developing a critical approach to business and financial theory.

HYPE puts forward an interdisciplinary research agenda using insights from the perspective of political economy (i.e. an interdisciplinary approach to the relations among individuals, governments, and public policy) and history.

Our aims

HYPE is founded on three main objectives:

Project blog

Meet the team

• Dr Daniele Tori (Director)
• Dr Dimitris P. Sotiropoulos
• Dr Michael Oliver
• Professor Janette Rutterford
• Dr Fatima Yusuf
• Dr Brett Crumley
• Professor Leslie Budd

PhD Students

• Enerelt Enkhbold

External members

• Dr Ariane Agunsoye (Goldsmiths, University of London)
• Dr Carry Van Lieshout (OU Geography)
• Professor Andrew Trigg (OU Economics)
• Professor Shraddha Verma (DeMontfort University)

News

• Summer 2023 - Prof. Rutterford co-authored a paper published in the prestigious Business History Review titled 'The Unsung Activists: UK Shareholder Investigation Committees, 1888–1940'. The article explores the role of investigation committees in nineteenth and early twentieth-century Britain, an early example of shareholders’ activism.
• 20/01/2022 - We are pleased to share the Call for Papers for the special issue titled "The financialization of daily life", to be published in Critical Perspectives on Accounting. The guest editors Ariane Agunsoye, Pauline Gleadle, and Neeta Shah expect to hold an online workshop on 3rd June 2022. Authors interested in participating in the workshop can submit either an extended abstract of 1,000-2,000 words or a draft paper by 30th April 2022. More information can be found at this link: Call For Papers - Critical Perspectives on Accounting | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
• 04/01/2022 - Emeritus Professor and HYPE member Janette Rutterford has been elected to the Council of the Institute for Fiscal Studies for a three year term. The Institute is an independent research body covering all aspects of taxation including the impact of taxation on  - to name but a few topics - education, the incentive to work, poverty,  corporate profits, and the cost of social care. The institute also edits the journal Fiscal Studies.

Previous events

HYPE Webinar Series

This series of webinars will investigate different aspects of contemporary social and economic challenges. The webinar series will promote interdisciplinary research agendas, using insights from political economy, history, and related disciplines.

The webinars will take place via Microsoft Teams. Everybody is welcome and participation is free, but registration is required. If you want to attend the webinars, please email us.

Past events organised under the Open Political Economy Group (OPEG)

• Workshop - New perspectives in political economy
  Friday 7 June 2019, 09:45 to 18:30
  The Open University in London, 1-11 Hawley Crescent, Camden Town, London NW1 8NP
• Financialised inclusion? Early-Career Researcher Masterclass on the Critical Understanding of Personal Finance within Global Financial Markets
  Wednesday 23 May 2018, 09:45 to 17:00
  The Open University in London, 1-11 Hawley Crescent, Camden Town, London, NW1 8NP
• Socialist Optimism: A Panel Discussion
  Wednesday 7 December 2016, 18:00 to 20:00
  Bloomsbury Room (Rm 35), Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
• Insights into Methodological Approaches in Economic Research
  Wednesday 30 November 2016, 09:30 - 17:30
  This workshop was organised by PhD students in the OU's Open Political Economy Group (OPEG)
  The Open University, 1-11 Hawley Crescent, Camden Town, London NW1 8NP
• Money, Debt and Finance: Towards a Political Economy of Financial Innovation
  Friday 26 June 2015, 09:15 - 19:30
  The Open University, 1-11 Hawley Crescent, Camden Town, London NW1 8NP