

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

Mar 25, 2021 • 48min
121 - The Psychology of the Far Right
All European countries have seen increases in far-right parties in the last decade. This political affiliation will not just disappear as most people hope it will. This week we look the far-right straight in the eyes and try to understand the underlying sentiments & motives behind the political affiliation. History has shown us the risk of letting it run free. Withe the help of Kevin Cunningham we don't just look at economics and social issue, but personality types & deep human characteristics, inherited from our hundreds of thousands of years as hunter gatherers which unwittingly dictate how we see the world. We also examine a previous period of rapid technological change, how it created both modernism and its counter reaction "blood and soil" nationalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 23, 2021 • 49min
120 - Cease and desist. Get out of the housing market right now, plus the 5 fundamental ways cities are changing
The global seller’s market for housing is hitting new levels of madness - its time for buyers to take a stand and decide that they’re not going to take part in this madness - at least until the supply comes back to its pre-pandemic levels. In the same vein, it’s important to consider how the world is changing as people look to buy new homes. We break down five major urban trends with Simon Kuper. Plus John's Cheltenham blues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 18, 2021 • 47min
119 - The Economic Revolution is here
Joe Biden unveils a $1.9 trillion package and is saying he will spend more. This is a massive change - almost a revolution against economic orthodoxy - and we are on our way to MMT (Modern Monetary Theory). We talk to the main proponent of MMT: Professor Stephanie Kelton about this brave new world. We are in a transformative age. Welcome to the future! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 11, 2021 • 43min
117 - Learning from the master innovator Johannes Gutenberg
Johannes Gutenberg, the master innovator, is discussed in this podcast. They highlight his life, innovations, and the importance of practical skills in education for fostering innovation. The future of technology, learning from mistakes, and the role of confidence in innovation are also explored.

Mar 9, 2021 • 50min
116 - White collar crime, why vaccines are destiny, & the miraculous resurrection of Boris Johnson
Why vaccine is the only game in town. What Michael should say to Joe on St Patricks Day, plus crimes in the “West lower”..... then off the London talking with Robert Shrimsley of the Financial Times on Boris Johnson’s surprising resurgence in popularity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 4, 2021 • 36min
115 - The War on Drugs has failed, stop it.
The War in Drugs is a spectacular failure. It is time to end it and begin to have an adult conversation about legalizing drugs. If you went out to set up a better way to enrich a violent criminal class, it would be impossible to find a better way. We explain the economic case for the legalization of drugs, tax them and use the proceeds to help those small amount of recreational drug takers who become addicts. Treat addiction not as a crime but a health issue. Also don't fear the rise in global bond yields. It's a sign of success and please don't listen to the "austerity hyenas" screeching about large deficits, thats what's supposed to happen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 2, 2021 • 37min
114 - Building back better
The markets are getting their knickers in a twist over inflation and maybe even deficits, we explain why the economics of the 1990s no longer applies and the big shift in global policy is the bias now is towards inflation not deflation for the first time since the 1970s. Plus, the brilliant economist Noah Smith from San Fransisco on three brilliantly practical ideas to make housing work better for everyone. Plus, what happens to an economist trying his hand at radio presenting for the craic gets a bit tongue-tied live on air with the British Foreign Secretary! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 25, 2021 • 56min
113 - Bidenomics, why we should not worry about inflation and embracing economic heres
The USA is embarking on the biggest change in economic policy in decades. Biden is using the economics of the 1930s to avoid the 1930s. This is a big deal. We speak to renowned economic heretic and former Fed economist, Claudia Sahm about Biden's New Deal, being bullied by 1970's thinking and America creating 10 million new jobs. Also, we talk about economic heresy. When only one Federal Reserve economist out of 406 is black, economics has a problem. We discuss about the coming Reformation in economics with Claudia, the woman who called it out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 23, 2021 • 38min
112 - How Ireland really works!
The upcoming sale of Ulster Bank will reveal how Ireland actually works. We give you the "collars up" view from the West Lower Stand at the Aviva stadium - where deals are done. This corporate finance 101 podcast breaks down the likely carve-up of Ulster Bank amongst the Insiders, and explains why as long as the banking system is joined at the hip to the property market, Ireland will always be a boom/bust economy driving up mortgage rates and down competition. Also why data is important. We break down the demand for housing in Ireland for the next thirty years. we need to build 55,000 housing units a year not 25,000 per year as the government maintains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 18, 2021 • 48min
111 - The future of the City
What will our cities look like after Covid? We talk to renowned urbanist Richard Florida, the man behind the concept of the Creative Class and Creative Cities about what next for our cities. We also outline three "must do's" for cities. The first is a directly-elected Mayor with proper taxation/spending powers, second a tax on land hoarding to make land useful again and third, cities need to issue municipal bonds to finance everything, from housing to great public works, with the aim of making our cities beautiful, livable and magnificent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


