Earlier this month, IF Senior Researcher Conor Nakkan delivered the keynote speech at the 2026 CHASM conference. The speech explored how financial insecurity takes different forms across generations, and what this means for intergenerational fairness. The full text of the speech is reproduced below.
Conor Nakkan
Senior Researcher
Conor joined IF in 2024 as an economic researcher. Conor completed his undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (Hons.) and Asian Studies at the Australian National University. He has just completed an MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy at the London School of Economics.
He became a Senior Researcher in 2025. His current areas of focus include fiscal policy, pensions, housing, democracy, and the labour market.
Why young people feel the odds are stacked against them
New research suggests that a growing number of young people in the UK think they will be worse-off than their parents. IF Senior Researcher, Conor Nakkan, takes a closer look at these findings.
A generational challenge: Will the government’s youth employment reforms go far enough?
The government recently announced a new £1 billion package of youth employment reforms. In this article, IF Senior Researcher Conor Nakkan takes a closer look at the package and considers whether it is up to the scale of the problem.
Is the housing crisis getting better or worse?
Recent figures suggest that property prices and rents appear to be moderating across the UK. In this article, IF Senior Researcher Conor Nakkan unpacks these trends and considers whether they represent good news for younger generations.
Should pensioners travel for free?
Last week, London Councils announced a review into the future of the Freedom Pass. The Pass entitles those aged 66 and over to travel for free across London’s entire transport network. In this article, IF Senior Researcher Conor Nakkan argues that the Freedom Pass, along with other age-based concessionary travel schemes, should be reformed.
Should the UK ban social media for children?
Earlier this month, Australia implemented a world-first ban on social media accounts for children under 16. In this article, IF Senior Researcher Conor Nakkan takes a closer look at the policy and considers whether the UK should follow Australia’s lead.
Budget 2025: It’s time to put young people first (for once)
In this article, IF researcher Conor Nakkan argues that the upcoming Budget is an opportunity to put the public finances on a more sustainable footing while also prioritising the needs of younger generations.
Statistics in shambles: The crisis at the Office for National Statistics
This article examines some of the problems facing the Office for National Statistics and explains why they matter from the perspective of intergenerational fairness.
Will AI take your graduate job?
In this article, IF researcher, Conor Nakkan, takes a closer look at the impacts artificial intelligence (AI) is having on the graduate job market in the UK.
Unsustainable, unpredictable, and unfair: The OBR highlights why the triple lock on the State Pension must go
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has just released their latest fiscal risks and sustainability report. This report provides a detailed analysis of some of the long-term risks facing the UK’s public finances. In this article, IF researcher, Conor Nakkan, unpacks some of the report’s main findings and explains why it strengthens the case to… Read more »