The David McWilliams Podcast
David McWilliams & John Davis
The aim of this weekly podcast is to make economics easy, uncomplicated and accessible. With the world at a political, technological and financial tipping point, economics has never been so important to all of us and yet, it’s made inaccessible and complicated by so many.I’ve always thought what is complicated is rarely important and what is important is rarely complicated.That will be our motto.Every week we are going to tease out some big economic or political issue facing us, not just here in Ireland but in Europe and further afield. Globalisation has brought us all together. We all face similar challenges whether you live in Dublin, London, Minnesota or Milan.If you would like to enjoy all of our content ad-free and have early access to episodes, subscribe to DMCW+ on Apple Podcast.If you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/DavidMcWilliams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 21, 2022 • 56min
The future of the internet economy with Stripe co-founder: John Collison
Today we’re bringing you a unique conversation that I had with John Collison over the weekend where I got to ask him a wide variety of questions covering innovation, crypto, macro-trends for the internet and even flying cars! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 16, 2022 • 40min
The 2nd Atomic Age
With markets gyrating all over the shop, it's easy to forget the big picture. The price of energy is the foundational price in any economy. Right now it's too high, but it will come down. And, getting it down, plus achieving net zero on carbon emissions are two of the most critical objectives for the entire globe. So how do we get enough clean energy to power the world, and bring down pollution? Nuclear has to be on the cards and in the mix. Let's explore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 14, 2022 • 39min
Inflation returns (kinda), what would James Joyce think?
Inflation is back. Don't panic....unless you bought Bitcoin in the past year. Inflation will abate as the policy and the economy adjust, but it may take a bit of time. Plus Bloomonomics - the economics of Ulysses and it's hero Leopold Bloom - what it tells us about creating and fostering civic, mixed living cities - which are the font of most innovation, and economic growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 9, 2022 • 32min
Platinum Jubilee, Sordid Slavery
As the UK celebrates the Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee, we forget that monarchies have historically sat on top of an economic system with slaves, colonies and extractive settlements, the objective of which was to steal wholesale from the colonised countries and peoples. The legacy of the colonialism runs deep in many parts of the world. This week we focus on the Caribbean, its traumatic legacy and how the money taken from there fuelled the capital markets of the 18th century and the industrial revolution. Even today, these countries are still seen as colonies in all but name. We explore the difference between "settler" states and "extractive" states and how these ideas still determine how countries progress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 7, 2022 • 32min
What hairdressers and Lobster Thermidor tell us about the economy, employment and inflation
The economy is changing rapidly, we are seeing challenges everywhere, almost all have to do with an excess of demand and deficient supply. This is, in the context of the past hundred years economic history, a brilliant to place to be! is But we might be looking at big developments, not just for policy, but for the coming conflict between public sectors and the governments - everywhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 2, 2022 • 45min
Putin and the long game against the West
Last week president Zelensky addressed Davos asking the WEF to help Ukraine rebuild, we talk being at Davos, and why in many ways Davos Man has been involved with Russia long before the Ukraine war came along. We also hear from Bill Browder about the nature of dealing with Putin and question as to whether the West will hold strong against Putin's long game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
5 snips
May 31, 2022 • 35min
Brexiternity - the only way the Tories to stay in power
We focus on our closet neighbour the UK today as it turns its back on the metric system. Yes, true, you believe it? We explore why the Tories have to keep Brexit going. It's their only electoral meal ticket. Expect more "false flag" operations, more weaponizing of Northern Ireland and more jingoistic nonsense about imperial weights, miles, furlongs and the like. You never know, if we wait long enough decimalization might be gone and they'll be back to the half-crown, farthing and shilling! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 26, 2022 • 38min
There's great dryin' in that wind!
Economics is energy and energy is economics. Imagine a country blessed with renewable energy, able to power itself and export electricity, faced with the opportunity to completely transform its economy and society and contribute positively to eliminating carbon emissions? That country is Ireland; and outcrop in the north Atlantic buffeted by maritime winds. When Mammy said there's great drying in that wind, she was talking about the transformative opportunity that living in a constant gale affords. Are we going to seize the wind energy chance or are we going to blow it? Listen and find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 24, 2022 • 28min
A Global Perfect Storm
Markets are suffering from global contagion. Stock markets are down 22% this year. Bonds are tanking too. There are at least four if not five proximate reasons as the global economy heads towards coordinated recession. China (17% of the global economy) is at a stand still due to zero covid, the US is fighting inflation. Europe's real incomes have been squeezed by "Putinflation" and emerging markets are running out of dollars. We tease out the big picture and what it means for all of us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
18 snips
May 19, 2022 • 47min
Living with inflation, the story of Turkey
Today’s episode is going to be exploring the intersection between Turkey and inflation, a country that has been living for many years with what traditional metrics would call “out of control” inflation for the last few years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
