Economics is about more than models and markets, it’s a way of understanding how the world works and making better decisions about the future. In this episode, we meet Soumaya Keynes, Economics Columnist at the Financial Times. Soumaya shows how economics isn’t just a subject, but a powerful tool for asking better questions about the world. Soumaya studied economics at Cambridge before building an impressive career in journalism, including eight years at The Economist and co-hosting Money Talks ...
Mar 25, 2025•36 min•Season 2Ep. 27
What if studying economics could be the key to understanding the world? Economics isn’t just about money or markets; it’s about solving real-world challenges, from government policies to everyday financial decisions. In this episode, Fiona Cox, an economist with a PhD and manager at KPMG’s economics team, shares how she lobbied to get economics on her school curriculum and now leads on impact assessments for major investments. Fiona’s journey is proof that economics can open unexpected doors. If...
Mar 18, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Curious about how economics shapes the world around you? It’s not all about GDP and inflation. In this episode, we sit down with Tuli Saha and Swasti Gupta from the Bank of England to explore the many different paths within economics and how there’s a niche for everyone—whether you love data, policy, social issues, or global markets. Tuli Saha is a Senior Economist and Data Scientist in the Financial Stability Directorate at the Bank of England, using data science to assess financial risks. Prev...
Mar 11, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Why do so many students overlook it as a subject and career path? And what can we do to change that? In this episode, we’re joined by Thando Mafa and Annur Chaudhary, two passionate Discover Economics Student Ambassadors, who are on a mission to inspire more young people to see the value of economics. Originally from Botswana and Bangladesh, they share their journeys into economics, what made them fall in love with the subject, and how they’re helping students and teachers see its real-world imp...
Mar 04, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Think economics is just for those who love maths and follow the traditional university route? It’s time to think again. In this episode, we chat with Arywen Morris and Susannah East, two degree apprentices working in economics. They share their journeys, from overcoming a fear of maths to choosing apprenticeships over university, challenging common misconceptions and highlighting how economics can drive social change. Arywen is a degree apprentice economist working on freight and motoring servic...
Feb 25, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Economics is more than numbers and theories - it’s about the questions we ask and the stories we tell. In this episode, Karen Ward shares her journey into economics, proving that a passion for understanding the world can open doors you never expected. Karen is the Managing Director and Chief Market Strategist for EMEA at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Before that, she worked at HSBC’s Investment Bank, contributed to key economic research on global trends, and advised the UK government on major fi...
Feb 18, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 22
What if you could shape the future of economics without a traditional university degree? Apprenticeships are unlocking new pathways for the next generation of economists. In this episode, we sit down with a dynamic group from the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre (Research and Economic Analysis for the Long-Term), which provides independent research to help shape the future of health and social care. Our guests include Hannah-Rose Douglas (Assistant Director), Ann Raymond (Economist), Zeyad Issa (...
Feb 11, 2025•59 min•Season 2Ep. 21
From public policy to the price of your morning coffee, economics is everywhere—but who gets to shape it? In this episode, we’re joined by Stephanie Flanders, one of the most influential voices in economic journalism, to explore the many ways economics shapes the world—and how we can make the field more diverse and inclusive. Stephanie Flanders is the Senior Executive Editor for Economics at Bloomberg and the head of Bloomberg Economics. Previously, she was the BBC’s Economics Editor, Chief Mark...
Feb 04, 2025•36 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Think economics is just about banks, budgets, and boring number crunching? Think again. In this episode, we’re chatting with Max Wood, an economics graduate who’s taken his degree in a completely different direction—into the world of content creation. Max studied economics at Bristol University, spending time in Paris and Shanghai before working with Discover Economics. But today, you’ll find him creating videos on YouTube and TikTok, interviewing UK musicians, and breaking down the music indust...
Jan 28, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Can’t We Just Print More Money? was written by Bank of England economists Rupal Patel and Jack Meaning and offers an accessible introduction to economics themed around ten questions including ‘Why are so many of my clothes made in Asia?’ ‘Why aren’t Freddos 10p any more?’ and ‘What even is money?’. Every state secondary school in the UK has been sent a six-lesson resource for GCSE English students based on the successful economics book which features extracts, presentation slides and worksheets,...
Dec 08, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Research Officer at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) since August 2019 and before that, Economist at Reserve Bank of Australia for five years. Helen Hughson has contributed to research on tax policy (including the work of the UK Wealth Tax Commission ), inequality, and migration, in her role as a Researcher at the London School of Economics. Previously, she worked for five years at the Reserve Bank of Australia on labour market and international developments, and co-aut...
Oct 26, 2021•51 min
Rohin is an independent strategy consultant (specialising in education and learning) and founder of an education technology start-up. The majority of Rohin's professional work experience has been as a strategy consultant first at Monitor Deloitte and then working independently for a variety of firms. His experience has focussed upon public services (including education), healthcare and technology as well as a number of private equity due diligence assignments. Rohin also spent nine months on sec...
Oct 19, 2021•41 min
Osama Rahman was appointed as the Department for Education’s Director of Analysis and Chief Scientific Adviser in April 2018. He: is a member of the Government Economic Service Board is a member of the Chief Scientific Advisers Network co-chairs the Departmental Directors of Analysis Network represents the government’s directors of analysis at the Analysis Function Board Before joining the Department for Education, Osama spent 14 and a half years at the Ministry of Justice including the Departme...
Oct 11, 2021•43 min
Lizzy Burden is a reporter at Bloomberg. She covers the UK economy, including trade, the Bank of England and the Treasury, for Bloomberg.com and The Terminal. She also writes the weekly Beyond Brexit newsletter and contributes to Bloomberg TV, radio, podcasts and Quicktake, the social media channel. Lizzy is a regular guest on the BBC, Sky News and Times Radio, and hosts events, including for the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and British American Business. L...
Oct 05, 2021•39 min
Anuoluwapo Sharon Adenuga Communication Strategist (Discover Economics) at The Royal Economic Society Royal Economic Society Established by the Royal Economic Society, Discover Economics aims to broaden the appeal of economics as a subject and career for 15–17-year-olds from under-represented groups. Founder, MSc candidate at LSE, First Class BSc Economics Graduate and experienced communications strategist with a demonstrated history of working in technology and social organisations. Skilled in ...
Sep 28, 2021•45 min
Mairi Spowage is a Principal Knowledge Exchange Fellow and the Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute. Her areas of expertise include economic policy, economic statistics, national accounting, public sector finances, and economic and fiscal forecasting. Mairi leads on the Institute's work with various partners, including those in business, the public and third sector. She is regularly asked to give evidence on economic and fiscal matters at Parliamentary Committees, such as the Fina...
Sep 22, 2021•48 min
Nida Broughton is the Director of Economic Policy at the Behavioural Insights Team. Previously, she was Chief Economist at the Social Market Foundation, leading policy research on economic growth, public spending and employment. She has also worked at the House of Commons, where she provided economic advice to MPs and select committees, and at Ofcom, where she led research on the application of behavioural economics to market regulation. She holds an MSc in Economics from Birkbeck, University of...
Sep 15, 2021•43 min
Vincent Tang is an Economist in the Fiscal Affairs Department at the IMF, working on Public Financial Management, Gender Budgeting and macro-fiscal policy. He was previously Head of Fiscal Economics and Growth Economics at Her Majesty’s Treasury in the UK. He has also worked at the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Department for Education, and holds an MPhil in Economics and BA in Economics and Physics from the University of Cambridge. https://blogs.imf.org/bloggers/vince...
Sep 07, 2021•43 min
Tanya joined the Adam Smith Business School in August 2018. Previously she was an Early Career Fellow at the University of Stirling working on the Healthy Ageing in Scotland (HAGIS) project. Tanya was awarded her PhD in 2015 from Royal Holloway University of London. Tanya’s main research area is Family Economics, where she has investigated topics such as the impact of local labour market conditions on the incidence of domestic violence and the influence of education on the propensity for early m...
Aug 31, 2021•38 min
Welcome to episode 8 of "How did I get here? Discover Economics " with Dame Sharon White. Dame Sharon Michele White DBE is a British businesswoman. She is currently Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, having previously held a variety of roles in the Civil Service. She was the Chief Executive of the British media regulator Ofcom from March 2015 to November 2019, and was Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury from 2013 to 2015. She was the first black person, and the second woman, to become a ...
Aug 23, 2021•38 min
Lotanna is a Doctoral researcher affiliated with the Environmental and Resource Economics (ERE) Research Group at The University of Manchester, Lotanna uses econometric tools to investigate how climate change affects our world and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular. He is also a teaching associate in the Department of Economics, University of Manchester. Lotanna assists in teaching Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Advanced Mathematics. Click here for Lotanna's University webpage...
Aug 03, 2021•43 min
Ian is an Associate Professor at the University of Liverpool and received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California-Irvine in 2017. Ian's research focuses primarily on the economics of discrimination and its impact on labor market outcomes and health. He has focused on discrimination against women, older workers, and the LGBT community.
Jul 29, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Welcome to episode 5 of "How did I get here? Discover Economics " In this episode, we have Will Page. Will is the former Chief Economist of Spotify and PRS for Music where he pioneered Rockonomics, publishing work on Radiohead's In Rainbows, saving BBC 6Music and articulating the global value of music copyright. His book ‘Tarzan Economics: Eight Principles in Pivoting through Disruption’ publishes on 1st April. He has served as a fellow of LSE’s Marshall Institute throughout 2020 and has recentl...
Jun 17, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Welcome to episode 4 of "How did I get here? Discover Economics " In this episode, we talk to Ben Chu, Economics Editor of The Independent, the UK's largest quality digital news brand. Ben was previously economics editor of BBC Newsnight, the BBCs flagship current affairs programme. He is co-presenter of Coronanomics and is on the International Advisory Board for SPERI, The University of Sheffield’s Political Economy Research Institute ....
Jun 02, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Welcome to episode 3 of "How did I get here? Discover Economics " with Andy Haldane. At the time of this interview, Andy was the Chief Economist at the Bank of England. Andy is becoming Chief Executive of the RSA, an institution which for 260 years has been connecting people and ideas to tackle the world’s most pressing problems. He is a member of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee and Chair of the Government’s Industrial Strategy Council. Andy is also an Honorary Professor at University of No...
May 26, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Welcome to episode 2 of "How did I get here? Discover Economics " In this episode, we have Dr Rachel Glennerster. Rachel is the Chief Economist at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Before that, she was the Chief Economist at the Department for International Development (DFID). From 2004 to 2017 she was Executive Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), an MIT Economics Department research centre that seeks to reduce poverty by ensuring policy is inf...
May 12, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to episode 1 of "How did I get here? Discover Economics" In this episode, we have Dame Rachel Griffith. Rachel is a Professor of Economics at Manchester University, Research Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Past President of the Royal Economics Society. What are you going to be when you grow up? A doctor, an astronaut, an engineer, a footballer? Very few people have ever dreamt that one day they would be an economist. It’s a profession on few young people’s radars, is bare...
Mar 08, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 1
