The David McWilliams Podcast Inflation for Losers with Mark Blyth
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May 8, 2025 
Mark Blyth, a Professor of Political Economy at Brown University and author of 'Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers,' delves into the pressing issue of inflation and its social repercussions. He explains how inflation penetrates daily life and fuels political division, linking it to rising discontent in the UK and the U.S. Blyth examines the socio-economic fallout from job losses and the paradox of tariffs, highlighting their effects on inequality. The conversation also reflects on how inflation could be a catalyst for disturbing political shifts worldwide.
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Football Match in Valle di Comino
- Mark Blyth and David McWilliams played a football match in Italy's Valle di Comino against locals.
- The match was lively with the Irish team winning 2-1, followed by a memorable Italian lock-in involving songs and an Elvis impersonator.
Understanding Inflation
- Inflation means a rise in the general level of all prices, not just in some goods like houses or stocks.
- The public feels inflation as higher prices generally, while economists focus on rates of change and volatility.
Supply Shocks Fuel Inflation
- Inflation is returning due to a series of supply shocks similar to the 1970s, not just due to demand or wages.
- Tariffs, climate change, and disrupted supply chains mean supply-driven inflation will continue.
