The Peter McCormack Show cover image

The Peter McCormack Show

#055 - Shanker Singham - How to Fix the UK Economy

Mar 4, 2025
Shanker Singham, a prominent trade economist and competition lawyer, dives into the challenges facing the UK economy. He critiques past government decisions that have stifled growth and increased national debt, comparing the UK's stagnation to the rising economies of the US and Poland. Singham advocates for labor market flexibility and deregulation, arguing these reforms could ignite competition and innovation. He also discusses Brexit's economic potential and the transformative role of Freeports in revitalizing the UK's financial landscape.
01:24:21

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The UK economy has struggled due to past government decisions that stifle growth, increase debt, and impact everyday citizens' lives.
  • Understanding GDP per capita is vital, as it reveals the economic realities individuals face, highlighting the gap between overall GDP and personal prosperity.

Deep dives

Impact of Economic Growth on Societal Optimism

Economic growth, reflected in GDP per capita, significantly influences societal attitudes toward the future. When people experience upward mobility and positive economic prospects, they tend to feel more optimistic and hopeful about their own lives and those of their children. Conversely, economic contraction diminishes people's will to thrive and leads to pessimism. This correlation highlights the importance of recognizing the role of government policies over the past 25 years in shaping current feelings about economic stability.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode