Jane Rickards

Jane Rickards, The Economist correspondent in Taipei, joins Charles Reid, a finance and economics writer, to delve into Taiwan's recent elections and the island's fierce commitment to democracy amid Chinese threats. They discuss President Tsai Ing-wen's significant victory and its implications for U.S.-Taiwan relationships and regional politics. The conversation also touches on global interest rate trends dating back centuries and highlights the challenges women face in academic publishing, revealing intriguing gender dynamics in scientific language.

Jane Rickards, a Taiwanese politics expert, and Charles Reid, a finance and economics writer, delve into Taiwan's recent presidential election. They discuss President Tsai's victory, underscoring the electorate's strong stance against authoritarianism and their desire for closer ties with the U.S. The conversation also touches on historical trends of declining interest rates since the Middle Ages, and how this shift poses challenges for economic policy. Additionally, they explore biases in academic publishing language, especially regarding gender.

John Peete, Brexit editor for The Economist, dives into the political chaos following Boris Johnson's controversial suspension of Parliament and its implications for Brexit legislation. Jane Rickards, correspondent for Taiwan, analyzes the U.S. arms deal with Taiwan and China's military reactions, shedding light on the shifting dynamics in U.S.-Taiwan relations. Meanwhile, the fascinating conservation story of New Zealand's kakapo highlights human efforts to save this endangered species from extinction.