The David McWilliams Podcast

Russia has been dominating headlines as of late and clickbait titles want you to believe that World War 3 is on the horizon - What is really happening in Russia? Join us as we hear from people living there what news they are hearing and how they see this large scale posturing play out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the return to office happening all around the world, we’re seeing old problems come back; namely, traffic and congestion in cities. This is something we can, and should, solve - join us as we look at how we make it work for everyone. Plus on the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses, what would Leopold Bloom have to say about traffic, land tax and urban economics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s massive amounts of money being thrown around by people who are trying to invest in the metaverse… so what exactly is it? And perhaps more importantly: is it a necessary or even a desirable future that these companies are setting up for us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We breakdown what is happening with the falling stocks in the tech sector by talking about bonds, inflation and returns on investment before looking at the state of the Irish economy as we emerge from lockdown. Spoiler alert: Housing is involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is about the UK: as Boris Johnson fights for his political life we breakdown the timeline of events that brought us here, when & how this all might end and finally: what is legacy might be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WB Yeats in his poem "The Second Coming", described a world, 100 odd years ago, where the forces of economics and politics meant that "things fall apart" and "the centre  cannot hold". In many ways he was right. In 1922, the centre didn't hold, not in Ireland, not anywhere. Things did fall apart. Today we look at the complexion of Irish society as it is, not as sloganeers might want it to be and ask the same question. Are we on the path of seismic change or something more gradual? The figures might surprise you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where exactly did Covid come from? Today’s episode tackles the origin of Covid, where did it come from, the food chain or a lab leak? A lab leak opens the door to all sorts of questions, geo-political, scientific and ethical. In fact, its one of the most important questions surrounding the pandemic and yet, it is the question few have asked? Conventional wisdom says it jumped from bats to animals in a Wuhan market, what it this is not true? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've no idea whether crypto and Bitcoin in particular will crash, double or stay where it is. No one does. In economic terms, cryptocurrency is definitely SOMETHING, but at this stage, it is patently not money. Join us as we explain how Bitcoin is clearly an asset, but its is definitely not money. Why a good way to look at money is to imagine it is like language and why money is a technology not a commodity. Could 2022 be the year to be cautious around the speculative asset that is crypto or time to double down despite recent declines? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's talk America one year to the day after storming of Capitol Hill. Some warn the US is moving towards civil war, certainly the place is divided, what of the early Biden optimism and just when you though it was safe to dream again, he's back, more orange than ever. All this a discussion on productivity, wages and growth in Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Year and a new credit cycle. In 2021 the world was awash with money, but will this continue in 2022? If not what will it mean for the economy, for  you, and for confidence? All credit cycles follow similar paths, we trace these cycles. Also what about European and Irish tech in the next 12 months and how John is becoming a drummer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Christmas! Hope you had a good one! Weird that this week we are talking about more boozing, more socializing, more venues, more events, more late nights, more entertainment just when things are closing down, but the best gift we can give the social economy, is open up everything, no more Victorian licences, and embrace the night time economy. For a city to live, it has to be 24 hours, for those who want to go out, where they like, when they like. All this plus, a framework for making better predictions in 2022 with the help of strategist Viv Chambers. Hope you enjoy and wishing you a Happy New Year! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Around the world the central banks have announced their vision for what 2022 will look like - How will these announcements affect your Daily budget and your ability to make biggest purchases? Join us to find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's an extra episode this week!Thanks to the folks at NOW we're bringing you the economics of football to understand clubs really work, what are the incentives driving their behaviors and how in many ways they mirror our broader economy as a whole. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is all about politics as Kevin Cunningham joins us to breakdown the latest numbers for Ireland and the UK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rising tensions between Russian and Ukraine has flared up faster than anyone could have predicted and we're now at the edge of what could be the biggest story of the year - so let's break down exactly what is happening and more importantly, WHY its happening Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode we get all historical and look at economics of Alexander Hamilton, the man who forged America and got murdered for his troubles. Through his eyes we tackle hyper-inflation, financing revolution, central banking, government borrowing and trade and wonder why it all still feels so contemporary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we go into another quasi-lockdown, what does it mean for the economy. What as Covid done to our understanding of the economy, why is this so different and what is likely to happen to the economy and in financial markets which are already expensive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we begin to take stock of the year we’re looking at how the pandemic has changed the working landscape through the lens of innovations and entrepreneurship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the span of a single week, a bright outlook for 2022 is now starting to look quite bleak as the new South African Covid variant enters our communities & media cycles. Today’s episode is all about how movement works, across people, financial markets & of course… COVID Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we talk about China: its growth, its dominance and perhaps most importantly; its future Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s start is about the way out of the global housing crisis, how some well intentioned ideas have unfortunate unexpected consequence and why the way out of this problem is going to require us to accept some imperfect solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explain precisely how exchange rate, interest rate and monetary policy actually interact and work - all within the first 30 mins! While inflation is grabbing headlines across the world whats hiding behind the headlines is fragile currencies: today we look at Beirut to understand what lessons we can take from a country when money dies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following last week’s conversations on climate change we wanted to talk about the real, tangible ways that we can create this better, greener future through public initiatives. The race to 2030 is on - and the finish line is closer than we might think! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s no secret that we’ve been living in inflationary times, but inflation is always the harbinger of higher interest rates and if they were to go up, what happens? Lessons from Zillow, the problem of tomorrow's big data, yesterday's invented barter, and the amount of debt out there and a central banks that gets spooked. Fascinating stuff. Its all about inflation, transitory or temporary? Today we’re joined by Rob Armstrong in New York to explore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to dereliction there's many myths that people tell to accept the status quo - "that's just the way it is" "the council is doing its best " - "It's a problem with planning permission". To put it bluntly: most of these are simply not true. Let's break them down and talk about what we can do to create a better future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode explores two topics: we begin by looking at what the market thinks of potential interest rate increases - is there a bear market coming? Then we continue to focus on climate change through a warning from the Vikings regarding how civilizations choose to collapse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are running out of time, it's now or never. The world needs to stop burning fossil fuels. That's the challenge. It’s not all doom & gloom. We explore about the massive economic opportunities of renewables for those who are ready to seize them! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s podcast is split in two: we explore the changing of the guard in Germany and a massive undocumented shift in German policy, before exploring the legacy of a great journalist and writer: Robert Fisk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why now is the time to strike for a higher wage. Wages are going up, don't get left behind. Also, a quick follow-up on last week’s chats on inflation & crypto, we ask the question what does crypto/Bitcoin do in a crisis? The Great Depression was caused by dumb-ass attachment to the gold standard, why would digital gold be any different in another slump? Plus wages, the Great Resignation and what it means for your job & your salary? And why switching jobs now makes complete sense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re continuing our conversation on inflation, this time through the lens of cryptocurrency to understand if it actually is the safe haven to inflation that many seem to think it is Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the Greek Goddess Maia, to the Roman God Mercury, and the Lord Edward Pub in Dublin, this week's chat on inflation takes an eclectic turn. We’re seeing price increases across various aspects of our lives - how worried should you be? Today we breakdown how these price increases came to be and how long they might last. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we connect with Alec Ross, the author of the Raging 2020s to talk about the fight for our future, how share-holders rose to power and the way that society can take back control for a better future for all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We kick off the week with the launch of our new international trade and money course which aims to bring economics to everyone! We start the chat with a quick overview of the course before talking about the new corporate tax rate, what's happening and how we can use this new reality to make Ireland a more entrepreneurial place for our youth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We examine the similarities between China in 2022 and Japan in 1990. The trajectory of huge export-led growth, dragging Japan in the 1950s, 60s, 70s out of the post-WW2 morass, and China in the 1990s, Noughties and Teens out of the post-Mao torpor, leading to an internal domestic bubble, fuelled by property, real estate speculation and excessive bank lending. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"A spectre is haunting Britain—the spectre of stagflation". It's not always the podcast paraphrases Karl Marx, but when it comes to ideology, there are few better examples of "the one size fits all" trap as Marxism or Brexit. Now the consequences of Brexit and the end of the pandemic are pushing the UK, one of the most inherently inflationary economy in the West, towards stagflation where growth slows at the same time as prices rise. In the week where the Brexit jihadis of the Tory Party gather, we have a gander across the water. Lots in here economics, politics, culture, nostalgia and the economics of panic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the experience economy, to the economics of meaning, the psychology of Covid deniers, what happens when you are too committed to on idea, the perils of Facebook, the economics of internet bullying and what happens when we don't see the downside of our own bad behaviour.  Brilliant stuff, fascinating insights. I think you will enjoy it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We kick off with a jammy deal in Dublin and why it tells you everything you need to know about what's wrong with Ireland's housing market. Plus the hidden costs of house price increases everything from obesity, climate change, wealth inequality and even fertility! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we start in China to talk about Evergrande, the real estate empire that is on the brink of collapse before talking about the history of colonialism and linking it to current day economics  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Michael D Higgins, Ireland’s President gets into a scrap, we have a hot take on rubber booms, Apocalypse Now, Roger Casement, King Leopold and Oscar Wilde! Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With headlines around the world talking about rising inflation its well worth the time to break down what it is, why yours might not be like anyone else’s and why, in time, this too shall pass. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're in Dubai, giving a quick run down of what the region looks like to the visitor, then we head back to Europe in order to look at the dilemma of elite overproduction, how our new meritocracy is turning sour an what it means for the economics, politics and society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China has been making huge policy changes in the last few weeks - it’s laying out a clear vision for what it wants the country to look like for the decades to come. We join Angelica Oung in Taiwan to help us breakdown the latest events Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish governments has finally laid out a vision to tackle the ongoing housing crisis and while it’s far from perfect, it is a step in the right direction. Join us as we go over what was proposed and what kind of impact it might have. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the 4th industrial revolution has converged with a global pandemic creating seismic shifts in various aspects of our lives, how will the future of work look like? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the implication of the Taliban's takeover of Kabul? The author of "The Silk Roads", Peter Frankopan shares his wisdom with us, and explains what all this means for the region and the globe. Plus, the odd riff on August, Louis Walsh and Jimmy Carter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Afghanistan is unraveling in front of our eyes, and while many stories are making headlines, few talk about what it currently feels like for the regular folks living there. We’re bringing you a unique perspective from real Afghans about what it feels like right now as well as what might come next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not always you get to chat to a man who survived 10 years in a Siberian Gulag, Mikhail Khodorkovsky is such a man, so this is a real treat. Who better to discuss Putin than the man Putin was so afraid of that he put him in prison? The handover from the Putin regime will be an huge geo-political event and it has the potency to go very badly wrong. Like most autocrats, Putin hasn't picked a successor and is said to step down in 2024, What will then become of Russia? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is a unique blend of music, creativity & quantum physics between two masters of their respective fields. From Brian Cox's early brushings with music to tips on being a good ancestor - this is one you don't want to miss! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re bringing you another conversation from the Dalkey Book Festival where we explore nationality, sports, history, the pandemic, and most importantly why the incentives to implement preventive measures are non-existent in our society!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we want to bring you a great conversation that I had with Bernie Sanders at the Dalkey Book Festival a few weeks ago. Senator Sanders touches on the current economic climate of politics in the states, the Biden agenda and where he wants to push the budget committee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.