Fairness and Responsibility in an Unequal Society

In the wake of the financial crisis there has been a renewed interested in issues of fairness and responsibility.  But what do these notions really mean?  And how should they be applied to the social issues of our time?  At same time there is concern at the increase in social and economic inequality, both nationally and globally.  Which types of inequality ought be of primary concern, and what can be done about them?  How does the recent emphasis on fairness and responsibility fit with the aim of reducing inequality?  Can appeals to such notions help to reduce inequality, or do they detract from such efforts?  What role should recent thinking about inequality and risk play in international efforts to reduce poverty and encourage development?  The conference marks the end of a four-year project on inequality, responsibility and fairness, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.