The David McWilliams Podcast

I’ve just come back from giving a TED talk in Vancouver. Brilliant experience, lots of amazing speakers, top notch presentations ;which more than anything reveal to us the stories that nations tell themselves. Today we also announce the line up for the Dalkey Book Festival, showing that as a nation of storytellers, we Irish are still second to none. Hope to see you at Dalkey which kicks of with a live podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Countries don't have relationships, they have interests - this notion guides us as we reflect on the coverage of Biden's visit to Ireland before tackling the current economic landscape of Canada from my vantage point in Vancouver where I'm preparing to give a TED talk Friday! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Future citizens have, by definition, no voice but someone needs to speak on their behalf if we’re meant to build a longterm society. The solution to the global housing crisis requires longterm thinking, creating solutions that will sustain us for at least the next 100 years, not just the next election cycle… and it’s much more affordable than you might think! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Communicating the bad before the good is an evolutionary trait that has helped us survive - but in today’s world, our ancestral instincts and the need to sell media has created a vicious circle that we need to expose and change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does Ireland do for the Irish Diaspora? Here's an idea: why not use Ireland as the re-charging battery for the Irishness of the Global Irish Tribe? Let's use Biden’s visit to Ireland this week to think about how we harness the soft power of Ireland's greatest and unique asset: the tens of millions people around the world who identify as Irish. Soft power is the power of imagination, and in the future a country's soft power will become much more important for our economy. Hope you enjoy this one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Easter, Ramadan and Passover, so let's go to the centre of the three Abrahamic religions, Jerusalem. Many years ago I spent time living and working in Israel which gave me a first hand impression of the country - both good and bad. This week we talk Israel - a country of 9 million people - as that country erupts in anti-government demonstrations, while some in that government talk openly about annexing the West Bank. We also chat to the last Jew in Cork, who emigrated from Cork to Jerusalem, and tells his story. The occupation is an abomination, and the human rights abuses and murder of innocent Palestinians is a stain on Israel, yet Israel isn't going anywhere, nor should it. So what happens next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You've never had it so good, but you ain't feeling it. Sound familiar? We explain this dilemma at the heart of a society - in this case Ireland - but its can be applied to many countries. It is one of the reason why politics seems so unstable even in countries where economic data appears robust. Unless economic figures percolate down to how people are experiencing the economy, they are not only unhelpful but worse, they are antagonising. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Putin has managed to turn Russia into a vassal state of China, a fact confirmed by Xi’s visit to Russia. The Sino/Russo alliance against the West is solidified between them but the alliance is not one of equals. Russia is China’s petrol station, while China provides Russia with manufacturing goods. This is China's moment. This week we discuss politics, geo-strategy and the enduring appeal, despite its failings, of the West. Plus a riff on car seats, Yuri Gagarin and why in 1492, it was European not Chinese ships that crossed the oceans to conquer the New World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The easiest way to rob a bank is to run it. Banks go bad from the inside out. When interest rates shift upward, lots of mistakes and dodgy practices are revealed. We break down where we’re at globally and what comes next - spoiler alert: it ain't pretty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The global housing crisis is significantly worse in countries that speak English. Why? Is it because far few English speakers live in flats? Flats are cheaper to build, creating more dense communities and apartment dwellers object far less than those who live in houses. We explore the joy of apartments today with the expert help of John Burn-Murdoch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You wait for bank failures for years then... three come in a week, one in the home of banking, Switzerland,. This presents central banks with a dilemma. Central banks have two key mandates. One is controlling inflation which, right now, demands higher interest rates, the other preserving the banking system, which right now requires lower interest rates. What gives? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On St Patrick's Day we go to the US, home to thirty five million Irish/Americans - there are only 7 million of us on the island.  In the country that, more than any other, has been shaped by Irish immigrants, we take the pulse of the US with Brooklyn's finest, Bernie Sanders. We chat about the deep problems that exist in the US, but also the way America can be renewed. Don't miss this one and Happy Paddies Day wherever you are. Plus we've got some brilliant new Irish music for you too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explain why SVB went bust, why yield curves matter and what comes next. Banks go bad from the inside out, but is this the first or the last bank crash of 2023? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we visited the richest and poorest parts of the UK and it didn't feel right. London, so long the dynamo for productivity, growth and taxation is spluttering and stagnating, while up the road in Northern Ireland; the poorest people now have a healthy life expectancy on par with Sierra Leone. Something has to give. What are Britain's options, will it take them or is the national decline now endemic and irreversible? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI has really come into its own in 2023 with the mainstream use of ChatGPT - but beyond the headlines and the initial curiosities, what does the ascent of AI mean for our economy and our society? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the mindset of the West, Russia is a big, significant, military power with significant resources, but is this perception based in reality? Is the reality that Russia is a decrepit state that has failed its people and ransacked its resources? Have the Russians done what they've done for years, which is lie and spin about its real potential, taking hostages and threatening all around them? In truth it's a large, leaky petrol station with nukes. As we go into the 2nd year of the war, lets examine, the reality of Russia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The way out of the housing crisis, both in Ireland and abroad is going to require us to think as a collective and reject individualistic, speculative instincts. Let’s look at what can be done to create better cities and communities, it’s actually pretty simple. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of the invasion of Ukraine, we examine how fragile this idea of liberal democracy, where the individual is valued and protected, has become. Yes it has its problems and yes, on a number of fronts, it has not delivered for all, but would you change the combination of liberal democracy and capitalism? There are alternatives out there, I'm not sure I'd like to live in any. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s finally happening, the government is going to tax vacant land! Or at least, they’re thinking about it. As a listener to the podcast, you'll be aware that taxing land to bring it into use has been a cornerstone of what is necessary to bring about a more efficient use of land. Not surprisingly, those with most to lose - major landowners/speculators are pushing back. This fight is the future of housing in Ireland (and everywhere). The State must hold the line and win. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's Chinese balloons are only the latest sign of tension between the two superpowers. The relationship between China and the US has deteriorated drastically in the last decade - what happened? Today we explore how China transformed itself from a simple producer to a high-tech producer, how that impacts their relationships on the global stage and why microchips are the epicentre of a trade and technology war that will define the coming decades. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On last week’s episode we discussed the fact that immigration is good for the economy in the aggregate, but is it good for everyone? As with most things, poorer people and richer people experience life and its challenges differently. Poorer people compete with new immigrants in the housing and jobs market, as well as for public services. This creates tensions. We examine these social tensions, and look for some solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This bonus episode is brought to you by Done Deal Motors.Price and value don't exist in isolation - everything is relative. Join us for this bonus episode as we look at our social lens on value and the profound impact of interest rates on our lives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economic growth is not distributed evenly. Why are some societies richer than others? What is the impact of economic growth? let's look at the very essence of economics today and explain how successful economic growth has a profound impact on our daily lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immigrants are used to having it hard, both in life an in the public eye where they are often vilified. This lambasting though is based on nothing more than lies - the truth is that immigrants helps society grow and prosper. It’s time to set the record straight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Argentina and Brazil are currently undertaking the herculean task of creating a new currency based on the Euro model. Let’s discuss why they’re attempting this and how the Euro, the model they are following, came to be. The currency is the most important price in most economics, so getting this right is hugely important. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The people who build Europe's gothic cathedrals knew that they wouldn't be around to see them completed. They were building for people yet to be born. This is what we need to build liveable cities right now. Looking at John Gray the 19th century architect of Dublin's water system, we apply Gray's thinking and planning to the of the biggest urban dilemma of the 21st century: housing and urban planning. To execute urban vision, we need to take on some vested interests and think about future generations, not yet here, as our equals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Davos’s World Economic Forum, although often maligned for it’s ultra-wealthy attendees - and understandably so - is still an event that outlines, and in some cases, shapes the economic priorities of the world for the year ahead. Today we go right to the source to understand what is on the mind of this year’s speakers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's never been more expensive to be 30 something. The old social contract used to be, work hard, study, get a degree, keep your beak clean and soon enough your income will rise and you will end up richer than your parents. That's no longer the case. The conveyor belt of upward social mobility has stalled. The Millennials are falling behind, while their parents are surging ahead. And what about the generation coming behind them? Inter-generational warfare is not pretty but if we don't do something about it, who can blame the young (and youngish) for not being loyal to a system that has been so disloyal to them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to the view of the region from my travelling companion to Ukraine, Sasha Kabanovsky, born and bred in Kyiv. We covered a lot of ground, historic, political, social and economic. Hope you enjoy it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a student I first went to the Soviet Union in 1987. Then spent months in the Russian countryside trying to learn the language in 1991. Since then, I have worked and travelled in both Russian and Ukraine. I was first in Kyiv in 1998, working in the Ukrainian economy. So I've spent many years in that part of the world and have friends from both countries. Last week, I went back to Kyiv with an old Ukrainian mate. Here are the observations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2022 saw many ups and downs - and one notable "down" was the fall of crypto-mania. While the madness feels behind us, most still don't understand this "currency" that is shrouded in myths and lore - today, we're going to make sense of it all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like fire, money has profoundly impacted our species. So much so that it’s development has shaped how we organize together, how the world was discovered and who innovated first (and best!). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's start the new year with a fresh perspective on housing - because looking at it differently can create new ideas to solve the problem! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With inflation still very much present at the end of the year and various unions fighting to maintain their real world wages, some through strikes, let's take a look at why inflation hasn't been transitionary and how China has been able to hold it at bay for so long. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Messi apart, the player that caught most people's eye was Alexis McAlister. But how did his Irish family end up in the Pampas? Today we tell the story of the Irish Argentineans. More than 500,000 Argentineans are Irish-Argentineans, who are they and when did they leave Ireland.  The most famous of course is Che Guevara Lynch.  In February 1889, the largest single transport ship of immigrants ever to dock in Argentina was "The City of Dresden" and it came from Cork. Even Borges, Argentina's chief bard, wrote about Irish gauchos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year has been a turbulent one, across Europe, one of the countries that has felt this the most is the UK: 3 prime ministers in a year, a bank crisis and rising Scottish nationalism. Let’s explore how we got there and what might come next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This bonus episode is brought to you by NOW.Where did movies come from? What costs and expenses are involved in making them? How has streaming platforms changed the types of movies being made? All this and more answered in this episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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With the latest macro-economic cycle coming to an end, let’s look at what’s next on the horizon and how to spot companies that are over-value with the help of the legend himself: Jim Chanos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we near the end of 2022 let’s look at the year that’s been, identify takeaways of what has passed and have a chat about what might be on the horizon for 2023 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The crazy things about economics is that so much of what we’re taught growing up is actually wrong. Today we take a look at the myth about specialization by talking about Fitzcarraldo, biology and the impact that diversification has had on Ireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The credit cycle is an unforgiving master, as interest rates rise, different questions are asked about both companies and investments. We examine the new world of positive interest rates and what it means for the global economy. With more than $3.4 trillion wiped off the value of tech companies, far more than the entire GDP of the UK, we assess the impact. Are you ready for the next phase of this cycle? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war between Russia and Ukraine grinds into winter, Putin's new strategy is to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure. What it couldn't achieve on the battle field Russia aims to achieve in the living room, by trying to freeze ordinary Ukrainians. Today we have a fascinating chat with European Investigative Journalist of the Year Christo Grozev of Bellingcat on how he identified the poisoners of Alexi Navalny and how, using the same techniques, he has identified the Russia's remote killers, the civilian men and women, computer programmers, software engineers and data specialists living normal lives in Russia, who actually push the buttons and program the missiles raining down on Ukraine. It's fascinating and chilling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've always been "Doomcoiners" - yes, you guessed it, not fans of crypto. Now you know why. A passing understanding of monetary economics and monetary history would have warned anyone to be very careful. One of the biggest crypto exchange has filled for bankruptcy and across the board crypto currency valuation is in free fall - How did we end up here? And more critically, what sort of frauds will be unearthed when the dust settles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland's population is set to grow rapidly. Like a parent buying a-size-too-big-clothes for a teenagers, the State needs to be building infrastructure for an island population of 10 million. We explore this critical issue, plus musings of Toto Schilacci, the economic equivalent of playing keepy-uppies with Maradona and lots more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us on this wide ranging conversation on the nature of money that might change. the way you look at central banks, investments, spending and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm in NYC this week and caught up with Jeff Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic magazine. With the American midterm elections, the collapse of FTX exchange and Ukraine's victories in the field, we discuss the State of the Union, the American mindset as revealed in the elections, and America's role in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Capitalism dead? There’s a new media and retail ecosystem that is controlled by a select few who use algorithms to curate what we consume and how we shop… sounds like Feudalism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taking a look at the long-term economics shifts we breakdown how everything has changed since the pandemics - from international allies to cost of living crisis, it’s all here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the world’s eyes turned to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia - are the Chinese about to make a move on Taiwan while the world is distracted? Today we’re joined by angelica Oung to talk about increased tensions between China and the island. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.