Economics and finance demystified.
A recent listener's comment:
"I first heard about ChatGPT on your podcast and immediately started using it. I’m 73 and wrote my first program at 16. Having witnessed all developments in computing down the years I think this is the greatest since www. Your pod is informative in many different areas, politics, economics, society changes, housing crisis etc but at times goes beyond that. This episode tying up all this but also the implications of AI with a knowledgeable guest. ENTHRALLING! Keep it coming."
Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is Keir Starmer up to the task? The early evidence suggests not? Are bankers worth it? Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Has the coalition blown it? Or does the outpouring of budget criticism from official Ireland miss the point: it's what the people wanted? Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Will the electorate be grateful for budget 2025? Where was the long-term strategy and/or vision? So little for Irish businesses, particularly indigenous SMEs Tax base narrowed again Infrastructure mentioned loads of times with few details, let alone plans Not nearly enough focus on return on invetsment Will it work? In political terms at least. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
As we approach Budget 2025, we reflect on the usual leaked measures and suggest we are just children looking for the keys to the sweet shop. And yet so many of us say we want more houses, better health and high-quality schools. And then we elect politicians with a mandate to do none of those things. Is democracy structurally incapable of delivering much needed change? Or is just a system that delivers blocking coalitions to parliaments everywhere that prevent anything serious from happening? Is ...
A prominent ex central banker has suggested that Ireland should spend the money: it's time, he says, for 'Jam today'. That's our interpretation, at least, of his only slightly coded remarks. Trumponomics: it's time to take them seriously, if not literally. Another Chinese economic stimulus: bazooka or pea-shooter? Your weekly reminder about the global nature of the housing crisis Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acas...
There is a building slowdown in global manufacturing that is starting to look serious. This is a Chinese problem that is fast becoming a major issue for Germany. That's one explanation for the rise of the right in Germany. The new UK government is beginning to look like a bewildered bunch of not very good middle managers Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
The US central bank goes large and delivers a big interest rate cut. Thereby admitting it should have cut sooner. The Irish property market moves into double figure price inflation. And mortgage rates are only going to fall further Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
What is the right level of interest rates? While discussion of 'R-star' might seem esoteric, they do say one important thing: Euro interest rates are way too high. The Federal Reserve has achieved its price stability mandate and is now switching to focus on employment. Growth is now front and centre of all European economic policy debate. Even - especially - in the UK. The new chancellor is going down exactly the wrong path if she sticks to her fiscal rules. Don't just listen to us - every econo...
Irish inflation this week confirmed that the economy is showing few, if any, obvious signs of overheating. Prices are still going. up but at their slowest pace in a long while. That said, prices are 20% higher than we saw pre-pandemic. Memo to economists: don't pretend you know what causes inflation. European interest rates are still too high. When does government debt matter? 100% of GDP? 300% of GDP? As always, it all depends! But the US is adding to its debt in a most reckless and unsustainab...
In this podcast special Jim talks with Alex Denning, a 25 year old racing superstar. The business of modern racing is all about money, contacts and driving talent - in that order. Alex talks about doing exactly what his parents didn't want him to do. Making it with McLaren! But it costs anything between 5-15 million to break into Formula 1. Sometimes more - your dad has to buy the car company! Want. to lose weight? Forget about Ozempic - drive a McLaren very fast for lots of laps and you will be...
To the surprise of many observers, Europe's top court has told Apple it must pay Ireland €13.1 billion in back taxes. In a case that dates back to 2016, it's partly a history lesson about dodgy practices - the double Irish and all that. Those days are long gone. But there is also an investment lesson here, one that is not just of historical interest. The outcome of the original investment was €14.8 billion became €13.1 billion, thanks to the original purchase of negative yielding government bond...
Latest jobs numbers from the US point to a weakening economy. Interest rate cuts are on the way. The only question is, 'how big?' European elites are warning that Europe could cease to exist in its current from unless radical remedial action is taken. Few politicians will lsiten. If they do, they won't act. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Still drowning in cash, the new Finance Minister is warned by IFAC, yet again, not to spend it. Are the fiscal giveaways of past budgets really costing each household €1000 a year? Amidst all the cries of 'they are windfall taxes' it's forgotten that capital investment is - or should be - very different to current spending. We used to argue about borrowing for investment purposes - economists have always pointed that that borrowing for investment is perfectly ok, provided the return on that inve...
Rather than put all the spare cash in a 'future proof' fund, should the Finance Minister simply recognise the future is here, right now? Deviance has been normalised. Bicycle sheds with golden roofs: a parable about quality versus quantity of government spending Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
J D Vance has shot to prominence following his selection by Donald Trump to be, potentially, the next Vice President of the US. In this podcast special, we focus on Vance's 2016 best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, to try and explain and understand the man who clearly wants, one day, to be the leader of the free world. We are joined by Professor Shane O'Mara of Trinity College Dublin to discuss all things JDV. And there really is a lot to discuss! Shane is also a best-selling author (of much be...
The upcoming budget is thought likely to include changes - increases - to tax breaks on pensions and a rise in inheritance tax thresholds. We both agree that helping millionaire pensioners with even more tax breaks is nuts. But we disagree sharply about the wisdom of inheritance taxes. These are incredibly emotive topics. As our discussion shows! The Other Hand always welcomes feedback - good, bad or indifferent. We share a particularly interesting perspective from one listener. Ireland's popula...
Ireland has just set a new record for the number of people in employment. Back in the day, you either worked on the farm, civil service, domestic service or emigrated (only slightly simplified). If you had accurately forecast the relentless fall in agriculture-related jobs over the past decades you would have also forecast an overall economic disaster - one that did not happen. There were plenty of bad times of course but you would not have expected rapidly growing population and job numbers in ...
Irish house prices are approaching double digit rates of increase. What is going on? Is it supply? Demand? Interest rates? Demography? The robust economy? Of course, it's all of the above. We need to think about all of these things. If you really want house prices to fall you would massively increase supply and aggressively raise interest rates. A good old fashioned recession would really help. So be careful what you wish for. The economy is, thankfully far from recession. But something weird is...
Chris explains why he has deleted his Twitter/X account. Donald Trump is weird, but is it a good attack line for the Democrats? Elon Musk's resemblance to Bond villain Elliot Carver Russia has been invaded: a story that doesn't figure on the front pages. And the latest economic news. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
It seems a touch fanciful to us, but some analysts are wondering if Intel could go the way of Nokia. What is true is that at least one big company with a big Irish presence is in a spot of bother. Let's hope its recovery plan works. But it is a reminder that many a once great company has disappeared. Who remembers that Nokia once was as dominant as Apple? The US regulator has declared Google to be a 'monopoly'. That could have profound consequences. Whether or not technological obsolescence and/...
Reminder: stock markets go down as well as up. But wait long enough and they usually go up. Is the return of volatility a sign of a problem or just another wobble that will soon be forgotten? One problem is the story we create around these type of events. Our narratives are often not very good guesses. Chris puts some cash to work and Jim sticks to Bitcoin - this is not investment advice!!! Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acas...
Markets message to central banks: you are making a big mistake Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
'Weird' and 'vibe' are the words of the moment. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What is with all these extreme Catholics in positions of power & influence in the US? Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Is J D Vance nomination Trump's big strategic error? Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Reflections on Hillbilly Hypocrisy. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Has Simon Harris managed to change the narrative? He's 'taken back control' of at least some of the key issue. We shouldn't underestimate the powerful psychological impact of wiping out Sinn Fein's aura pf 'electoral inevitability'. Is ' buying the next election' with a giveaway budget really a sensible strategy? Even politically? Is it true to FG's self-image as the party of fiscal rectitude? Is it even possible - is the Irish electorate that biddable? Perhaps call the general election and ask ...
Is Keir Starmer already getting lucky? Only one month's data, but GDP growth smashed estimates in May. US and Irish inflation down again. IFAC warns about an 'overheating' risk to the Irish economy. Why we should all, in fact, get to love overheating. Nvidia, AI & the US stock market: amazing growth Biden is losing his friends. He should make Kamala Harris President now. Orban has a very dodgy group of friends. Poland is getting nervous. Reform. We note that the infighting looks to have begun Be...
The Irish political scene looks as fluid as that in France, the UK and elsewhere. The polls are getting it wrong and plenty of voters don't make up their minds until they enter the polling booth. We take a deep dive into all of this with renowned Irish political analyst and commentator, Tull McAdoo. Why is Sinn Fein's vote collapsing? Will they recover? Maybe their last General Election result was a proper Black Swan event and the recent local and European elections are a better reflection of th...
In conversation with author, blogger and columnist, Professor Chris Grey Post the Labour landslide election victory, some of us have smiles on our faces. Does the result mean we can now really turn the page on the chaos and mendacity of the last 14 years? Is Keir Starmer relying on dumb luck for success? Is this the last chance saloon for the UK? "Stability, Investment and Reform". How deliverable are these things? Will they be enough, particularly as there is no money? Labour is placing a big b...
