The David McWilliams Podcast
David McWilliams & John Davis
The aim of this weekly podcast is to make economics easy, uncomplicated and accessible. With the world at a political, technological and financial tipping point, economics has never been so important to all of us and yet, it’s made inaccessible and complicated by so many.I’ve always thought what is complicated is rarely important and what is important is rarely complicated.That will be our motto.Every week we are going to tease out some big economic or political issue facing us, not just here in Ireland but in Europe and further afield. Globalisation has brought us all together. We all face similar challenges whether you live in Dublin, London, Minnesota or Milan.If you would like to enjoy all of our content ad-free and have early access to episodes, subscribe to DMCW+ on Apple Podcast.Want to join our crew? Join at davidmcwilliams.ie/crew, where you can enjoy ad-free listening, as well as exclusive bonus content such as premium episodes, our macroeconomics course, early access to episodes and pre-sale access to tickets for Dalkey Book Festival & Kilkenomics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 26, 2026 • 45min
Is the West Losing Africa to China?
A on-the-ground tour of Johannesburg and Soweto, exploring migration, inequality and the legacy of apartheid. Discussion of South Africa’s mining roots, rising Chinese presence and why Western influence is slipping. Looks at corruption, new elites like “slay queens,” renewable and rare-earth potential, and how demographics and resources make Africa central to future geopolitics.
14 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 40min
Why Some Countries Create Jobs and Others Export People
A tour of Johannesburg’s stark unemployment and what it reveals about job creation. A rewind to Ireland in 1990 and the surprising forces that transformed it into a job machine. Exploration of devaluation, foreign investment, peace, falling rates, and a culture that learned to back entrepreneurs. A clear push to protect risk-taking as the real engine of employment.
8 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 37min
Shedonomics: Can Europe Survive China’s Manufacturing Machine?
A deep dive into surging Chinese exports and a widening trade deficit with Europe. Short, cheap, high-quality goods and electric cars flood markets. The rise of low-value parcels and hidden “shed” micro-warehouses rewires logistics and hollows out high streets. The conversation probes whether one-way trade and tax loopholes could force major policy shifts in Europe.
7 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 51min
St Patrick's Day Special: Who Exactly Are The Irish Americans?
Brendan, an academic historian at the University of Galway who studies Irish emigration, gives historical context on waves of migration from Ulster to the famine west. He traces Irish settlers’ roles in early America, the institutions that built Irish-American life, and asks whether a distinct Irish-American identity still endures. The conversation ends with ideas for reconnecting the diaspora, from arts to a birthright-style return program.
16 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 28min
The Economics of War
They trace economic shockwaves from a Middle East conflict: rising oil, gas and shipping costs. They explain why the Straits of Hormuz is a global energy choke point. They explore stagflation risk, fertilizer-driven food price pressures, and Europe's heightened exposure compared with the US. They examine how energy shocks feed into mortgages, inflation, transport and business risk.
16 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 47min
America's Road to Tehran - Part 2
A sweeping history of post-1979 regional transformations, from Soviet-Afghan interventions to the rise of Hezbollah. The narrative follows shifting U.S. priorities, Iran–Iraq dynamics, and the politics behind Oslo and Netanyahu’s ascent. It tracks Hamas, Gaza’s upheaval, and how normalization efforts reshaped strategic calculations across the Middle East.
18 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 47min
How the West Lost Iran: Oil, Coups, and the Road to Revolution - Part 1
A deep dive into Iran's strategic geography and why its oil made it a global prize. The story traces British oil empire and the 1953 coup that reshaped power. It follows the Shah’s US-backed transformation, growing corruption and inequality, and the rise of religious opposition that set the stage for revolution.
Mar 3, 2026 • 41min
Can Democracy Survive an AI Economy?
A fast-paced look at how AI is speeding up medicine, productivity and profit. Discussions cover mass layoffs as a market signal and BNPL debt among younger consumers. They explore evolutionary economics, the risk of techno-feudal concentration of power, and whether democratic institutions can adapt to machines that learn faster than society.
Feb 26, 2026 • 40min
Can Europe’s “Hidden Continent” Finally Break Free?
A tour of the Balkans from Belgrade to the football terraces and rom-coms. Conversations about Kosovo’s role in regional politics and Serbia’s deep ties with Russia. Explanations of 1990s hyperinflation, sanctions and wartime memory. Notes on a youthful, pro‑European push against corruption and the region’s comeback potential.
Feb 24, 2026 • 38min
Can You Prosper Without Building Proper Cities?
A journey from an ancient Irish bridge to Sarajevo explores how bridges tell stories of trade, tribes and local life. The conversation tackles Ireland's low-density, car-dependent sprawl and the hidden winners of rezoning. It contrasts fragile, congested suburbs with Japan's dense, transit-first mega-region and asks why compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods aren't chosen instead.
