Sasha Nauta, Public policy editor for The Economist, discusses the need for a more flexible welfare state in light of recent economic crises. Charlie McCann, an economist based in Singapore, emphasizes the vital role of human connection and its impact on health, tackling the emotional void left by isolation during the pandemic. They explore innovative approaches to rethinking government support, the concept of 'skin hunger,' and the importance of physical touch as essential to well-being.