Economist Podcasts Mission possible: Baghdad is booming
91 snips
Sep 4, 2025 
Gareth Brown, the Middle East correspondent, reveals Baghdad's booming construction scene and shares insights from his discussion with Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani about the city’s future. Archie Hall, US economics editor, dives into the YIMBY movement in Washington, D.C., where locals embrace population growth. Emma Irving, Asian news editor, explores the intriguing role of superstition in Hong Kong, examining how beliefs shape economic behaviors and even tourism during festivals. Tune in for a whirlwind tour of these dynamic topics!
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Growth Amid Structural Fragility
- Gains coexist with deep structural problems: a bloated public sector and failed energy reforms persist.
- Sudani avoids direct confrontation with militias, instead encouraging them into business to integrate them into the state.
Sustain Stability To Lock In Investment
- Maintain security and political neutrality to keep regional conflicts from dragging the country in.
- Continue reforms and infrastructure delivery to keep voters and foreign firms invested ahead of elections.
Noma's Urban Makeover
- Archie Hall walks Noma's streets and notes rapid apartment construction, new metro access and bustling sidewalks.
- The neighbourhood transformed from post-industrial Swampoodle into one of America's fastest-growing housing hubs.
