This week, we explore the intersection between inflation, public sector pay and productivity, or value for money to the taxpayers who pay the public sector salaries. First, we need a good public service, second workers should be well paid, but third, is there any way of linking public sector wage increases to productivity? If not, then let's be honest with society and say so. We look at Baumol's theory of costs, a bit of old-fashioned insider/outsider dynamics, and the role of multinationals in ...
Jan 30, 2024•28 min•Season 2024Ep. 9
Dublin, like many cities, needs to make a decision to reinvent itself for the 21st century. It's a battle between the past and the future. There is no urban planning manual anywhere in the world that argues for more cars in towns and cities. In urban transport, cities future is fewer cars, not more. Dun Laoighaire - my hometown - is a microcosm of every modern town in Western society, and its plans for pedestrianisation could change the town dramatically. Returning the emphasis from the car to t...
Jan 25, 2024•33 min•Season 2024Ep. 8
Last week at Davos, Javier Milei, delivered a fiery speech that spared no one, from Keynesians to Globalists. Despite some controversy, Milei's libertarian ideas are gaining traction both in Argentina and beyond. As people grapple with economic and geopolitical challenges, they are increasingly drawn to solutions that Milei proposes. In this episode, we explore Milei's speech, which delves into the history of economic growth where he attributes much of it to the principles of free-market capital...
Jan 23, 2024•32 min•Season 2024Ep. 7
Ireland wasn't ready for the economic success we have experienced over the past 40 years. However, with success comes more social responsibility that the Irish government hasn't been able to meet. We weren't ready for the combination of a population boom, multinational investment, income to rise, and housing demand to increase as a result. We are now at an inflection point. We have no choice but to reframe our society and how we look at housing, the other option is social chaos. Hosted on Acast....
Jan 18, 2024•35 min•Season 2024Ep. 6
The Houthis - who are they? And why are the US and UK bombing them? What has it got to do with your world? America is keeping shipping routes open and that's exactly what the Houthis seek to destroy. The Houthis occupy one of the maritime world's most sensitive trading chokepoints, and they understand this. 90% of the world's traded goods are shipped by sea: stop shipping and you stop the global economy. This week we talk about all this and the impact on Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...
Jan 16, 2024•36 min•Season 2024Ep. 5
Join us as we explore the connection between culture, language, and economic growth. We are joined by John Burn-Murdoch and his data-driven expertise as we discuss how the West could be 'talking itself into decline.' The shift in culture and language that began around the 16th century has become increasingly relevant as books have become digitized - particularly tracking words related to progress and positivity could be another way to explain economic growth trends and cultural shifts. Hosted on...
Jan 11, 2024•39 min•Season 2024Ep. 4
January if often the time for looking ahead, but all too often, we don’t look far enough. Today’s episode is about looking at the end of a 40 year cycle and the start of a new longterm economic reality! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 09, 2024•32 min•Season 2024Ep. 3
2024 is going to be a monumental year - 50% of the planet that is eligible to vote is going to vote! But the real power lies in the media: who tells the stories, who controls the medium and the message. This will be the year of a full on war between micromedia, like podcasts etc, and macromedia, like TV. In this battle there is only one winner. It's called economic and technological disruption. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 04, 2024•38 min•Season 2024Ep. 2
We start today by breaking down the mathematical formula to economic growth before moving to my best reads of 2023… and a sneak peek of a book coming out in 2024! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 02, 2024•29 min•Season 2024Ep. 1
What a year it’s been! On the last episode of the year we take a look back at the incredible year (sometimes good, sometimes bad) that 2023 has been across the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 28, 2023•32 min•Season 2023Ep. 103
Happy Christmas! Here's a fascinating discussion that I've had with Naomi Klein this year that covers a wide range of political topics - something to ponder on as we all take a well deserved break! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 26, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2023Ep. 102
As I spend my last night in Los Angeles, I’ve come to appreciate the drive of this city where so many creative endeavours are born. Hollywood is the core of America’s soft power - What story will it tell next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 21, 2023•33 min•Season 2023Ep. 101
Live from Las Vegas we talk about 2024, the upcoming American election, falls in global interest rates, potential American isolationism, the Gutenberg Bible, today’s AI boom - and where it is all taking us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 19, 2023•30 min•Season 2023Ep. 100
Time to eat humble pie? Despite us saying last year it that Bitcoin was a BS idea, its value has risen over 150% this year! What’s behind the surge? We talk about Notorious B.I.G, Benjamin Franklin, the wisdom of Charlie Munger and the fact that Bitcoin is something, but it ain't money! But where from here? Should we revise our stance on the technology? Joins us to find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 14, 2023•32 min•Season 2023Ep. 99
Ireland has a massive deficit in public infrastructure and a massive surplus in the public finances. Economists are advising the government to save on the basis that saving is "good". But not spending when we have an increasing immigrant population is a recipe for social chaos. This podcast is celebration of spending. Ireland's tax base is set up to generate surplus, so spend the money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2023•39 min•Season 2023Ep. 98
Putin's back, swanning around the Gulf visiting Saudi Arabia and the UAE, telling the world that he was never really away. Things are going his way. Meanwhile America, is swamped with recurring geopolitical crises and its role as the global top dog is under enormous pressure as we head into an election year. 2024 could be the year of a global infection point, we set out the issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 07, 2023•36 min•Season 2023Ep. 97
We mark the death of Shane MacGowan by looking at the Irish Diaspora, particularly in England and its impact on English popular culture. From there we look at Ireland's relationship with its Tribe abroad and from there, we imagine what a 2nd Irish Republic will look like (which will happen because it's necessary) and the role of the diaspora in this thinking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 05, 2023•37 min•Season 2023Ep. 96
Liberal democracy in the western world is all too often taken for granted. But its enemies, nationalists, theocrats, Marxists and isolationists - are rising. Will Israel become a "wedge" issue? Also, why we should defend it and what the erosion of commercial liberalism in China is doing to its economic performance. What does 2024 has in store for the best political idea we've come up with yet, liberal democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 30, 2023•43 min•Season 2023Ep. 95
After the riot, the analysis. We look at the power of crowds, why crowds love destruction, why they grow and how they the dissipate. Plus, of course the economics of the Irish far right, we look at the numbers, who are they and why they are here to stay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 28, 2023•55 min•Season 2023Ep. 94
From tantric sex expert to President, Javier “chainsaw” Melei is a new type of populist - and anarchy-capitalist one! What does this mean, is this guy libertarianism’s answer to Che Guevara? And where will “dollarisation” take this beautiful but profoundly dysfunctional country? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 23, 2023•39 min•Season 2023Ep. 93
The board of Chat GPT may be firing its CEO, but that doesn't mean this revolution is slowing down. A whistle wind tour from the dawn of time with Stanley Kubrick, to Gutenberg in 1453, and up to now, we look at the economics of innovation. With AI are we now facing catastrophe or a creative surge? Listen up, as we explore the economics of AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 21, 2023•41 min•Season 2023Ep. 92
Anti-semitism, inflation, threats to democracy, despotic leaders and fragile governments, if you thought it was today, its is - but hold on. It's happened before... This very month 100 years ago, German hyperinflation peaked, Adolf Hitler announced himself with a putsch and anti-semitism was rife. History is repeating itself, or is it? Join us on this epic journey back in time to see what we can learn and whether we can apply any historical remedies to today's global problems. Hosted on Acast. S...
Nov 16, 2023•37 min•Season 2023Ep. 91
Today we kick-off a new three part series that looks at the state of the big economic blocs in the world. Part one is the state of the US as it enters an election year. Plus we scan the UK and the EU, briefly. We call this world the NATO-sphere for obvious reasons. Next up in this series, we will deal with the impact of AI and third we will look at China the link between economics & liberalism. Our first conversation is around US economy, the rate of interest, inflation and the miracle of re...
Nov 14, 2023•40 min•Season 2023Ep. 90
How is the Israeli tail is wagging the American dog? America's election is exactly one year from now and Joe Biden is in bed with Netanyahu, but his own party, the Democratic Party is deeply divided by his embrace of Israel. He has given Netanyahu his blessing, but he can't influence the outcome in Gaza. This emasculation, combined with the end of the 0% interest rate days where previous "stars" are falling to earth - WeWork goes bankrupt, NFTs blinds people and SBF gets convicted - and we have ...
Nov 09, 2023•32 min•Season 2023Ep. 89
John and I sat down at the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny and had a natter, covering all classes of topics from economics, to James Joyce, WB Yeats and a whole host of other topics, focussing on Europe's economic policy dilemmas. We chatting about unconventional thinkers, how the artist & the entrepreneur are much more similar than meets the eye, both being unconventional dissenters. And If you’d like to hear my full TED talk on unconventional thinking, simply click here: https://www.ted.com/...
Nov 07, 2023•49 min•Season 2023Ep. 88
We go way back to 70 AD before coming bak to today. Demography demands a two state solution, and the Israeli's know this. But a trap has been set for America, into which it is sliding. The Kremlin has its "wedge' issue and the battle for the West continues, Putin can't believe his luck. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 02, 2023•33 min•Season 2023Ep. 87
It's not world shattering to announce that there is a pay discrepancy between men and women - but it's important to note that this gap has been maintained despite numerous laws and financial requirements that have been implemented to remove said gap. So why is is still here? Join us as we talk about the underlying issues that laws can't address! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 31, 2023•33 min•Season 2023Ep. 86
In the third instalment of our series we explain the period of 1993 to the present in the Middle East. Why the peace accords floundered, the impact of 9/11, why the middle ground gave way to the extremes, and the rise of the Israeli tech industry. Don’t miss it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 26, 2023•42 min•Season 2023Ep. 85
The commercial property market is struggling to swallow the interest rate hikes aiming to bring down inflation. Can the mass building of the last decade, built on the back of very low interest rate, survive this new economic landscape? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 24, 2023•32 min•Season 2023Ep. 84
Part 2 of our overview of the Israel-Palestinian conflict brings us from the Six Day War to the Oslo Accords. Key things here are the change in the image of Isreal in the world imagination from defiant fighter to oppressive bully and the emergence of Iran, fundamentalism, settlers and economic stagnation. We end with Soviet Jewry emigrating to Israel, the Palestinian Intifada, chaos in Lebanon and the road to, a short-lived, peace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 19, 2023•44 min•Season 2023Ep. 83
