FT Alphachat

Why do many Americans have trouble saving money for emergencies? Economist Allison Schrager debates this question and the impact of oil prices on spending with hosts Cardiff Garcia and Shannon Bond. Then, the FT's Kara Scannell explains why foreigners are sending their money to South Dakota to set up family trusts. Visit FT.com/alphachat for show links and notes. Music by Minden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economist turned author Caroline Webb joins hosts Cardiff Garcia and Shannon Bond to talk about her new book How To Have a Good Day, in which she dissects 25 years worth of behavioural science research to explain everything from productivity to our most personal relationships. Caroline sticks around to discuss the dilemma of how to quantify the impact on the economy of status-seeking behaviour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of a four-part series on sovereign bankruptcy, the FT's Robin Wigglesworth tells the story of Jamaica's fiscal turnaround, which took a punitive austerity programme and a dose of good luck. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third of a four-episode series, the FT's Robin Wigglesworth examines the novel but controversial way Greece restructured €200bn of its debts, which demonstrated potential improvements to the messy sovereign debt restructuring process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second of a four episode series the FT's Robin Wigglesworth examines what happened when Argentina defaulted on $80bn of its bonds in 2001, at the time the biggest sovereign default in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of a four part series on sovereign bankruptcy, the FT's Robin Wigglesworth looks at how and when countries fall into distress, and examines whether Italy's debts are sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economist Brad DeLong examines three key but underappreciated events in economic history with host Cardiff Garcia. Then, author and former banker Satyajit Das discusses a variety of stagnationist trends that he says could yield an economic disaster worse than the Great Recession if something doesn't change, as outlined in his recent book The Age of Stagnation. Plus a conversation about starting a new career at middle age. Visit FT.com/alphachat for show notes and links. Music by Minden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an episode dedicated to investing and quantitative analysis, hosts Shannon Bond and Cardiff Garcia are joined by US markets editor Robin Wigglesworth to discuss quirky new alternative data that money managers use to make investment decisions. Robin also offers some insight into what first quarter earnings indicate for corporate performance in 2016. Then, the FT's John Authers talks to Meb Faber of Cambria Investment Management about cloning the strategies of the world's most famous and aggressive active investors, the subject of Faber's recent book Invest with the House. Visit FT.com/alphachat for show notes and links. Music by Minden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psychologist Anders Ericsson, author of Peak: Secrets from the new science of expertise, joins hosts Cardiff Garcia and Shannon Bond to discuss his career's findings in the way people become experts in their fields. Then, the FT's Matt Garrahan discusses who could become the next leader of Disney, where the question of who would succeed Bob Iger as CEO has been thrown wide open by this week's exit of chief operating officer Tom Staggs. Visit FT.com/alphachat for show notes and links. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wearable technology, including the Apple Watch and Google Glass, has been limited in appearance and functionality, but Amanda Parkes, chief technologist at Manufacture NY, thinks it has a promising future. She joins hosts Cardiff Garcia and Shannon Bond to discuss the relationship between technology and fashion and the privacy issues for the wearables of the future. Then, the FT's David Crow explains the latest developments in the Valeant and Theranos sagas. Plus a quick debate about executive pay and the public humiliation premium. Visit FT.com/alphachat for show notes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.