The David McWilliams Podcast

It's August - We're taking a moment to go through our archives and surface a few "best of"' to keep you company on your summer holidays. This week we're revisiting one of our all-time favourites: the economics of love! Hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we dive back into Florence and Dante to explore how this extraordinary writer’s lessons and insights are still as relevant today as the day they were written Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric & Mark walk us through the vacuums in politics and the different types of anger that has brought on the rise of populism globally and how they’ve used this anger to create a new economic framework Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone has tried to make the year that’s passed fit into classic boom/bust models but the truth is that there’s nothing classical about 2020 - so let’s assess what really happened to the economy and what we’re heading into now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brands spend millions to represent something that consumers want to be associated with. The tricky part is that culture is always changing, always evolving. The latest cultural change is the rise of ESG in people’s decision making - not understanding this shift can significantly impact bottom lines! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a wind of change in the Cuban air. The Castro family is no longer running the country and there are whispers among the locals that this might be a tipping point for the country. Let’s breakdown the current situation & the different ways that this can play out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economists are dangerous, so says this week's guest iconoclastic economist,Professor Steve Keen and this is particularly the case if we think about climate change. What can we do to avoid a climate catastrophe? Carbon credits could be the answer, but we have to act quickly. Plus, why Ireland could be to renewable energy what Saudi Arabia is to petrol and thrifty five years after Chernobyl, why the return of nuclear is on the cards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish government is trying to sell its stake in the Bank of Ireland at a half price. Selling cheap and buying expensive is never good business. We head back to the West Lower to explore the nexus between selling Bank of Ireland cheaply and the dreaded Davy Stockbrokers, that entity that is under investigation by the State. Could there be a link? If so what does it say about corporate culture in Ireland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week the New York Times took a swipe at Ireland by calling it a tax haven - which it most definitely is not. Using taxes is central to any nation's economic policy. A tax haven is understood to be a place where a company puts a brass plate up, has few if any employees and proceeds to wash money through this shell company. That is not what is happening in Ireland. We explore the transformation of the Irish society and the Irish economy, against the background of a small country fighting the limitation of size by embracing globalization and importing much needed capital over a thirty year period. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world is changing and nowhere is that more apparent than in urban areas around the world. Today’s episode looks at the transformations happening in our podcast home of Dun Laoghaire and use it as a template to discuss what might happen around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up here, in what used to be called the "1st World", the pandemic has focused economists' minds on what can be done to change our thinking after Covid has passed. M.M.T. sets out new economic opportunities  available, for example, to the the US. But not all countries have the luxury of this approach built up over decades of wealth and stability. Countries in what is now termed the "Global South" do not have these possibilities. Yet they are the ones that need a break most. Today’s episode contrasts what new economic frameworks meant for countries who are already rich and compares that to the experience from countries who remain poor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I was a kid, being inclusive or accepting of gay people was regarded as the death knell of commerce. Today it’s an essential attribute of a successful economy or company. This week we talk about the change Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We examine recent political trends and ask the question: is the centre, written off by the extremes, back in the game & And if so, what does it mean? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're slowly but surely coming to the boiling point of the housing market, but as we do so it's important to step back and understand the magnitude of the mess we're in. Join us this week as we quantify the booms & busts of the last 2 generations in Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elections all over the world are now power struggles between "castes", not so much classes, ideologies or even economics. We look at economic history as being one on going struggle between three castes, the priests, the warriors and the merchants. Each traditional caste has evolved from their historical origins, but they are essentially unchanged in the modern. Today's politics is still dominated by this fascinating three-way struggle, economics is also determined by the winners of this battle. From the Pharaoh, to the Red Branch Knights, the disappearance of Prussia, right up to Brexit and the next Irish election we trace this illuminating way at looking political, power and position. It explains why the relatively rich have swung to the Left, while the relatively poor have swung to the Right in the biggest political re-configuration of our age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History is a great teacher - so this week we turn to the 1980s in Japan to learn how one country who had seemingly figured it all out - lost its way! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Money is so deeply engrained in our lives that we sometimes forget to think about it at all. With the rise of alternative currencies it's worth taking a step back and thinking about what exactly is money? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every country has the right to use the tools at their disposable to make the lives of its citizens more prosperous - even the tax code. With the G7 underway and it’s headlines about a common tax rate we’re going to explore what that could mean for Ireland before moving to another key global issue: Disrupting the construction industry to achieve affordable housing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why gold may have started with prostitution, why wine makers take the mickey, why economists only see half the picture and what Naomi Osaka tell us about decision-making and why the so-called hard sciences are actually easy and the soft one, hard. We’ve always opened the podcast by saying that you need to understand human nature to understand the economy, so today instead of interrogating a specific topic, we look at value & value creation - because economics has to be more open to marketing & psychology to see the big picture and be materially better at creating a better future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bitcoin’s value has gone from 10 000 USD to a whopping 60 000 USD in the last 6 month - before going down to about 35 000 USD now. But what is it? Is it money or an asset? Can a currency so volatile be a reliable replacement to fiat money? Is it even a currency? Or something else entirely? This week we’re doing a 2 part series that aims to untangle all the noise around coins and cryptocurrency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bitcoin’s value has gone from 10 000 USD to a whopping 60 000 USD in the last 6 month - before going down to about 35 000 USD now. But what is it? Is it money or an asset? Can a currency so volatile be a reliable replacement to fiat money? Is it even a currency? Or something else entirely? This week we’re doing a 2 part series that aims to untangle all the noise around coins and cryptocurrency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a quick hit on Bitcoin we join Harvard economist Megan Greene for a deep dive on why MMT is rising in America, how Biden is embracing this new vision of monetary policy and what he’s trying to achieve with these massive infrastructure plans - all while watching out for the inflation risk! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brexit has created a new economic environment for the UK. Robert Lind joins us to untangle what the new business model might be moving forward, how it might diversify the UK economy & how it might affect London and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you know anyone in their 20s or 30s, no matter where in the world you are, you’ve been talking about housing. By all accounts the pandemic has turned an underlying condition into a fatal diagnostic for most millennials. Today we look at how the world’s housing markets in a variety of countries before moving onto the return of inflation - its always important to keep things in perspective Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Through a unique Broadway analogy, the fascinating three times Pulitzer Prize winner, New York columnist Times Tom Friedman helps us navigate the bigger picture behind the terrible headlines that we've been reading for the last week regarding the conflict in the Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As wages stagnate but house prices rise, a new class will emerge, beneficiaries of the housing boom, an inheritance class. As the younger generation falls behind, they will become more dependent on inheriting wealth, normally via parent's houses. This will create a drone class without the get up an go of previous strivers. We are already seeing it in some countries: you can go backwards. Also a conversation I had with the Pope, yes Francis himself about exactly this! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you feel it in the air? The wind is changing for property funds in Ireland, people are realizing how rigged the system is against them and they’re deciding to do something about it. The first step of any battle is to understand what you’re up against. This week we’ll try to breakdown these funds to better understand what they are & how we got here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it - or so the saying goes. This week, with the help of IG, we’re looking at what happened in the Great Depression and comparing it with Biden’s current economic approach to see if we’ve learned anything from the past economic cycles… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some argue that great civilized societies are measured by culture, literature or art but what about the idea that real sophistication is statistics? Truly self-confident societies reveal, expose, shine a light and measure. Calculation is purity. Data matters and to fully understand anything it’s often essential to understand numbers. Why do we use a base 12 for months? 60 for seconds? How do we make sense of the latest political stats? The answer: it's all about context. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biggest barrier to progress is the contented class, driven by their C.A.V.E philosophy: Citizens Against Virtually Everything, they want things to slow down now that they have risen up. they object to almost everything, gumming up the planning process, driving up house costs and house prices. These Cavemen, consumed by the anti-social behavior of serial objecting, are lifting the ladder behind them it in an attempt to further their economic status at the expense of the next generation. We contrast this static, dysfunction with the thrusting dynamic of the tech sector which is creating the future in front of our eyes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The music industry has been the most iconic example of disruption in the modern age, but if Will Page is right (former chief economist of Spotify) - it might only be the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come. Join us as we explore what happened to the music industry and how the same disruption is coming for many more categories, maybe including your own! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Through the super-league we look at what might be the impending end of neo-liberalism: it's all about the background noise!. From there we tease out what economic super-cycles are, why they might be a breath of fresh air for the next generation and how we’ve come to an inflection point in macroeconomic thinking Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday was the worst day to day for new cases of COVID 19 globally since the pandemic started. WE may feel safer, but the world is a dangerous as ever. To combat it, and any future variants, we must respond as a united planet: the reality is we can only open if rich countries pay for the vaccines of poor countries. In 1918 after WW1 we had the League of Nations, in 1948, after WW2 the UN, World Bank, Marshall Plan and the WHO. Maybe this crisis will provide the catalyst for a global response, because vaccine nationalism isn't the answer. Planetary response to a planetary pandemic. Money is not the problem, vision is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We head down the West Lower to look at the fallout from the KBC move to leave Ireland, plus in the week that the new more muscular USA slaps sanctions on Russia, we look at the geo-strategic options for Russia, including a tacit alliance with the USA against China in Siberia. Also, there's a Russian/American summit coming up, why doesn't Ireland host it and use out neutrality actively? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most significant changes influencing our world is the feminization of the economy. It's been a long time coming, and the fruits of many battles- contraception, free and inclusive education, divorce, abortion. Finally, in the West, woman are catching up with men, in income and wealth. This trend will profoundly affect the society and the economy. Candice Bushnell, writer of Sex in the City, remarked that, "Women with money is a notion that our society is uncomfortable with". Well we'd better get used to it. In the global south, it's a different story; as Marla Dukharan reminds us, the fight is far from over Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the last few decades Ireland has been growing by leaps & bounds, catching up with most of our European neighbours in almost every measurements, social and economic. Part of that story has been the dramatic improvement in the countries' capital base as a result of US MNC investment. Ireland has received more US corporate investment that China, Russia, India and Brazil combined! Now the Biden administration wants to harmonize global corporation tax - do we need to come up with a new strategy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China is changing. Relations with the US have plummeted Taiwan is the ground zero for the new China. What happens in Taiwan will affect the global economy for decades to come. We head to Taipei for an explosive local view of regional and global. Also what doe the US's new 20% corporation tax mean for Ireland and the world economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland has been in lockdown for 231 days - by far the most stringent lockdown in the EU, so where's the dividend? Could 1950s/60s Irish emigration to the UK explain far more about Ireland and Covid than we care to admit? Plus, it's all changed in the USA. Paul McCulley talks about the tectonic shift in economic policies that is shaking up the United States - how Biden calls time on Reagan's economics and why we are looking at a bear market for bonds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, the canal is unblocked, but the ramifications of the events should not be understated: the fragility of our global supply chain has been exposed and people are starting to awaken to the inter-connectivity of our global lives. Join us as we talk with the brilliant historian Mr Silk Roads himself, Peter Frankopan about what all this will mean for the future of globalization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Any free trade has 2 sides: a buyer & a seller. After today’s conversation with one of our Patreon: Ciaran Mulqueen - who runs the crazy house prices instagram page it seems that buyers are going to start taking major steps to change the course of the housing market, in Ireland and globally! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All European countries have seen increases in far-right parties in the last decade. This political affiliation will not just disappear as most people hope it will. This week we look the far-right straight in the eyes and try to understand the underlying sentiments & motives behind the political affiliation. History has shown us the risk of letting it run free. Withe the help of Kevin Cunningham we don't just look at economics and social issue, but personality types & deep human characteristics, inherited from our hundreds of thousands of years as hunter gatherers which unwittingly dictate how we see the world. We also examine a previous period of rapid technological change, how it created both modernism and its counter reaction "blood and soil" nationalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The global seller’s market for housing is hitting new levels of madness - its time for buyers to take a stand and decide that they’re not going to take part in this madness - at least until the supply comes back to its pre-pandemic levels. In the same vein, it’s important to consider how the world is changing as people look to buy new homes. We break down five major urban trends with Simon Kuper. Plus John's Cheltenham blues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Biden unveils a $1.9 trillion package and is saying he will spend more. This is a massive change - almost a revolution against economic orthodoxy - and we are on our way to MMT (Modern Monetary Theory). We talk to the main proponent of MMT: Professor Stephanie Kelton about this brave new world. We are in a transformative age. Welcome to the future! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learning used to be hands-on, trail and error, mentors, mistakes & real world experience. Gutenberg is the model. Could going back to the old ways be the key to unlocking the innovators within our youth? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why vaccine is the only game in town. What Michael should say to Joe on St Patricks Day, plus crimes in the “West lower”..... then off the London talking with Robert Shrimsley of the Financial Times on Boris Johnson’s surprising resurgence in popularity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The War in Drugs is a spectacular failure. It is time to end it and begin to have an adult conversation about legalizing drugs. If you went out to set up a better way to enrich a violent criminal class, it would be impossible to find a better way.  We explain the economic case for the legalization of drugs, tax them and use the proceeds to help those small amount of recreational drug takers who become addicts. Treat addiction not as a crime but a health issue. Also don't fear the rise in global bond yields. It's a sign of success and please don't listen to the "austerity hyenas" screeching about large deficits, thats what's supposed to happen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The markets are getting their knickers in a twist over inflation and maybe even deficits, we explain why the economics of the 1990s no longer applies and the big shift in global policy is the bias now is towards inflation not deflation for the first time since the 1970s. Plus, the brilliant economist Noah Smith from San Fransisco on three brilliantly practical ideas to make housing work better for everyone. Plus, what happens to an economist trying his hand at radio presenting for the craic gets  a bit tongue-tied live on air with the British Foreign Secretary!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The USA is embarking on the biggest change in economic policy in decades. Biden is using the economics of the 1930s to avoid the 1930s. This is a big deal. We speak to renowned economic heretic and former Fed economist, Claudia Sahm about Biden's New Deal, being bullied by 1970's thinking and America creating 10 million new jobs. Also, we talk about economic heresy. When only one Federal Reserve economist out of 406 is black, economics has a problem. We discuss about the coming Reformation in economics with Claudia, the woman who called it out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The upcoming sale of Ulster Bank will reveal how Ireland actually works. We give you the "collars up" view from the West Lower Stand at the Aviva stadium - where deals are done. This corporate finance 101 podcast breaks down the likely carve-up of Ulster Bank amongst the Insiders, and explains why as long as the banking system is joined at the hip to the property market, Ireland will always be a boom/bust economy driving up mortgage rates and down competition. Also why data is important. We break down the demand for housing in Ireland for the next thirty years.   we need to build 55,000 housing units a year not 25,000 per year as the government maintains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What will our cities look like after Covid? We talk to renowned urbanist Richard Florida, the man behind the concept of the Creative Class and Creative Cities about what next for our cities. We also outline three "must do's" for cities. The first is a directly-elected Mayor with proper taxation/spending powers, second a tax on land hoarding to make land useful again and third, cities need to issue municipal bonds to finance everything, from housing to great public works, with the aim of making our cities beautiful, livable and magnificent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.