Leading economists discuss the baffling state of global crises dubbed 'permacrisis.' They dive into how the New Zealand central bank set an arbitrary 2% inflation target now used worldwide. The conversation also touches on a poignant question from the Queen about the Great Financial Crisis and the consequences of finance overshadowing growth strategies. With a focus on transformative leadership and sustainable recovery, they urge a rethinking of inclusivity and governance in today’s complex economic landscape.

The UNDP’s Pedro Conceição talks about today’s global gridlock, uncertainty complex, and a pervasive sense of disempowerment.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Chad Syverson, a distinguished service professor of economics at the University of Chicago Booth, dives into the intricacies of productivity. He discusses why productivity is vital for economic health and shares insights on how technology, particularly AI, may shape its future. Syverson contrasts productivity trends across regions, delves into the impacts of rising inflation on growth, and explores the implications of de-globalization. His thoughts on nurturing relationships highlight the human element in fostering a productive society.

A former US deputy chief technology officer talks about how digitization can be used to create a government that works for the people. Jennifer Pahlka is the founder of Code for America, served as the United States government’s deputy chief technology officer, and is author of the book Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. Jenn joins us to share her personal reflections of her time in government and the path forward.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Co-host Janet Bush talks with Ed Glaeser, the Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics and the chairman of the Department of Economics at Harvard University. His latest book, coauthored with health economist David Cutler, is Survival of the city: The future of urban life in an age of isolation, written to make sense of what might be the impact of the pandemic on cities. They covers topics including: •    Has the pandemic changed cities temporarily or permanently?•    What does the hybrid building look like? •    Do developing world cities teach us something new? •    How can homelessness be tackled? See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Co-host Janet Bush talks with Marco Buti. Buti holds the Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa Chair in European Economic and Monetary Integration at the European University Institute. They cover topics including the following: The evolution of European policy coordination European competitiveness Whether Europe’s business model is sustainable The need of more speed among European companies in frontier technologies The importance of Europe’s capital markets union See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Co-host Michael Chui talks with Nan Ransohoff. Ransohoff is the head of climate at Stripe and leads Frontier, an advanced market commitment for carbon removal. She answers questions including: Is carbon removal a get out of jail free card for emitters? What are the most promising carbon removal technologies? Is it possible to scale up effective technologies quick enough? How much do costs need to come down before scaling is possible? What is an advanced market commitment? See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Co-host Michael Chui talks with Andy McAfee. McAfee is a principal research scientist at the MIT Sloan School of Management, co-founder and co-director of MIT’s initiative on the digital economy, and the inaugural visiting fellow at the Technology in Society organization at Google. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Co-host Janet Bush talks with Stephen King. King is a senior economic advisor to HSBC, having served as the bank’s group chief economist from 1998 to 2015. His latest book, very prescient in timing, is We Need to Talk About Inflation: 14 Urgent Lessons from the Last 2,000 Years. In this podcast, he covers topics including the following: The root causes of the current resurgence of inflation How long higher inflation may persist What history tells us about the management of inflation The main economic problem that lies ahead Why inflation matters See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Homi Kharas, senior fellow at Brookings Institution, discusses the changing character of the world's middle class and its impact on shaping the world. He also explores the implications of becoming middle class, the role of the middle class in climate change, and the potential effects of AI on this socio-economic group.