ECONOMIST Vicky Pryce, who recently served a jail sentence, will reveal the personal and economic cost of sending women to prison at a forum hosted by a Birmingham City University-led think tank.

Ms Pryce, former wife of ex-Cabinet minister Chris Huhne, who was also imprisoned, will be speaking at an event organised by Idea Birmingham, the business think tank she inspired and supported.

In 2011, Ms Pryce chaired the All Party Parliamentary Design Commission, launching its report, Design Education and Growth. She said: “We believe design is a lever for growth. Design skills are really relevant to the modern condition - they enable people to be both creative and analytical.”

That thinking directly influenced Idea Birmingham, the Birmingham City University-led business “think and do” tank, which promotes the region's brands and cultural heritage in a bid to strengthen regional identity.

Ms Pryce’s forthcoming talk coincides with the publication of her latest book, Prisonomics (Biteback Publishing), which draws on the diaries she kept during imprisonment. The book is said to be a deeply personal account, examining prison life but also a hard-hitting analysis of the cost to the economy of keeping women in prison.

In one of her first public experiences since leaving prison, Ms Pryce will be speaking at Birmingham City University's Parkside Building on Wednesday, September 18, from 6pm to 8pm. Entry is free to the event. To register visit ideabirmingham.eventbrite.com.

The university has a national centre of excellence for criminology and leads research into all aspects of the criminal justice system, including the penal system.

"We are pleased to welcome Vicky back to Birmingham and I look forward to hearing Vicky’s thoughts on the challenges of the past year and the economics of the prison system," said Beverley Nielsen, director employer engagement at Birmingham City University and the founder of Idea Birmingham.

"I also expect this talk to be relevant to the wider business audience, economics students and to scholars with an interest in criminal justice, an area of specialism for ourselves at Birmingham City University."

Ms Nielsen added: "Vicky, as a successful female economist operating at the highest levels in business and Government, has been an inspiration to me. Her recent experiences have put a new perspective on her life and I keenly await her views and insights.”

The new book will use a style similar to Ms Pryce's previous publication, Greekonomics, also published by Biteback. She explained: "I kept a diary while in prison and I have some strong views on how the prison system works, especially with regard to how it treats women.

Ms Pryce, a mother of five, said: "I will use personal experience to back up my arguments but I must be clear that this book is more than a memoir - it will analyse how prison works."

The event marks a programme of public engagement activities being organised by Birmingham City University, including the CityTalks series of public talks to be launched in October.