Economist Podcasts

Competitive spirit: tech after the pandemic

Oct 28, 2021

Ludwig Siegeler, US technology editor for The Economist, and Tim Judah, Balkans correspondent, dive into the tech industry's post-pandemic evolution. They discuss how major firms are facing downturns as smaller companies thrive. On the geopolitical front, Judah highlights Serbia's military buildup, stirring tensions in the Balkans. The conversation takes a fascinating turn with the rapid evolution of tuskless elephants in Mozambique, illustrating how human conflict can accelerate natural selection.

21:53

Creator website

Episode guests

Tim Judah

Ludwig Siegele

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Tech Giants vs. Rising Stars

7min

Winter Shopping Convenience and Rising Geopolitical Tensions

2min

Serbia's Military Resurgence

7min

The Evolution of Tuskless Elephants: A Consequence of Conflict

3min

Genetic Evolution of Tusklessness in Elephants

4min

After a year of breakneck growth, the big five tech companies—Alphabet, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft—are coming back down to earth. We look at how the pandemic has changed the industry and spurred on smaller firms. Serbia’s military build-up is making its neighbours nervous. The country’s president tells us why he’s been amassing arms. And evolution usually unfolds over millions of years. But new research into Mozambique’s tuskless elephants suggests that it can be turbocharged by humans. Additional audio used with permission from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

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