

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

Jul 16, 2019 • 24min
Why healthy economies are inherently unstable not inherently stable!
What do you get when you cross Donna Summer, David Bowie, Bitcoin, Joseph Schumpeter, creativity and innovation? You get the essence of the modern capitalist economy, something called “creative destruction” - the most potent force in economics. In this podcast ,we explore the role of disruption in the economy from 1970s disco beats to 21st century blockchain technology. Hope you enjoy it and tell us about what you thought! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 9, 2019 • 31min
The failed war on drugs
It’s time to face the facts - the war on drugs has been a failed experiment. Anyone with a basic knowledge of economics and supply and demand will know that prohibition drives prices upwards, drive profits into the hands of criminal gangs and those very profit coaxes more gangs into the business, leading to more and more violence. It's time to call time on the war on drugs and apply common sense economics to this global issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 2, 2019 • 31min
Understanding China's trade wars, Brexit and Tianammen Square through the lens of Japanese history
In this episode, we examine today’s geo-politics, the China vs America showdown and related economic threats through lessons from Japan’s Meji Restoration, plus Soviet and Chinese history. Remember, those who forget their economic history are condemned to repeat it. Enjoy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 25, 2019 • 28min
A guide to understanding Germany
Why has Germany, the most important country in Europe, not had the political sway that matches its economic dominance and how that might change in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 18, 2019 • 27min
Why it’s time to move Dublin Port
Dublin Port is 600 acres of prime residential land, beside the sea, close to all transport links and it should be developed in a new city on the water. The rest of the world is moving their ports, even Cork is, yet in Dublin, the legacy of a time when ports had to be at the mouths of rivers because rivers were a country’s key transport links, dominates our urban thinking. It is time to move the port, reimagine the city, reconsider the gateway to the capital and reorientate our city to face the sea, Dublin’s best natural resource, rather than turning our backs to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 11, 2019 • 36min
International property cycles
The global markets have never been so connected, and economies tend to be cyclical - what does that mean for Ireland as we face the real possibility of a global economic slowdown? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 4, 2019 • 35min
Trump’s tariffs explained & the new tech cold war
As Trump lands in Ireland this week, we examine his trade war with China, his tariff policy and who it really hurts, plus why China and the US are heading for a major conflict and why the new Cold War is in truth a tech Cold War which the US believes it has to win and the implications of all this for politics, Silicon Valley and the world economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 28, 2019 • 29min
Exploring the ramifications of a united Ireland
There's a wind of change in the air and its nationalism, you can feel it - it's in France, in the UK and even in Ireland. For the first time in a long time, Brexit and demographics in Northern Ireland have opened a real possibility of a united Ireland. But what would it mean, culturally, politically and economically? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 23, 2019 • 25min
Special episode: A sit down with Bernie Sanders
This is going to be a bit of a different one - back in 2017 I had a chance to sit down with Bernie Sanders for a wonderful conversation - and as some of the topics discussed then are still making headlines now, we wanted to share this amazing conversation with you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 21, 2019 • 21min
US politics, the fed, AOC & quantitative easing
It’s time to join the dots. We explore why the shift to the left from younger voters is simply a logical reaction to policies that were put in place to save the baby boomer’s way of life, what that means for politics & for the economy now, and in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


