CHASM Conference 2026: Contemporary Risks to Household Financial Security

Keynote: Conor Nakkan, Intergenerational Foundation with further keynote and full agenda to be announced shortly.

The past decades have seen significant shifts in responsibility for financial security from collective institutions to individuals and households. At the same time, people’s financial lives are increasingly uncertain and subject to financial shocks, whilst wage stagnation, rising interest rates, and the enduring high cost of living are exacerbating financial strain.

The CHASM Conference 2026 brings together a range of experts to consider the contemporary experiences of financial insecurity and risk facing a growing number of low- and middle-income households. The experts will cover issues ranging from the rise of precarious work, problem debt, and a growing private rental sector, to evolving social needs such as mental health support and unpaid caregiving.

Reflecting on insights from two keynote speakers and CHASM’s latest research evidence, we will explore the financial consequences of these changes from the experience of those directly affected. We will also consider where responsibility should lie for improving peoples’ financial outcomes. The conference will ask questions about the role of intergenerational fairness and justice related to these issues, as well as debating future policy and practice change that can address the multiple and complex drivers of financial insecurity.