Macrodose

On this week’s episode of Macrodose James Meadway breaks down the G7-backed price cap on Russian oil (0.41), the warning from the National Farmers' Union that Britain is sleepwalking into a food crisis (4:32), and the results of an experiment in a 4-day working week (10:22).

On this week’s episode of Macrodose James Meadway breaks down the economics behind the strikes that are spreading across the U.K, from the railways, to teachers to nurses and oilworkers (0.49s). We take a historical view on this new wave of industrial action (7:10), and then reflect on the U.K’s worsening energy crisis, examining how record levels of debts could push households over the edge this winter (10:55).

On the first episode of Macrodose James Meadway breaks down the the OECD warning that the UK’s growth prospects are the worst of all the G7 countries (1:06); the austerity 2.0 measures of Rishi Sunak’s government (6:05); and the new IMF report on inflation, which debunks the idea that advanced economies, like the UK, are experiencing rising prices due to an increase in worker pay (13:05).

We’re living through a time of unprecedented economic turmoil. From war, to the pandemic, to supply chain failures and climate breakdown, it is everyday people who are being made to bear the brunt of the crises. The pace of events can seem overwhelming and confusing. The old ways of understanding our economy don’t seem to fit any more, and the economics establishment is out of ideas. But these crises aren’t going away, and we aren’t going to return to the era of economic stability. Macrodose is a new weekly podcast that seeks to chart our way through these turbulent times, and build a vision for a just, sustainable and progressive future. Each week, we’ll bring you a 15 minute update on the key economic stories making the news, and the analysis you need to make sense of them. It’s time to set the story straight. Join James Meadway every Wednesday morning for Macrodose: Your weekly fix of everything economics. Subscribe now, wherever you get your podcasts.