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
Apr 11, 2024 • 29min
2024:30 Common Law or Common Sense? Nimbyism's Grip on Housing
The podcast delves into the impact of Nimbyism on housing crises in English-speaking countries, discussing challenges in housing policy, housing rights, and intergenerational capital disparity. It explores the need for solutions to address the imbalance between rising living standards and deteriorating quality of life, particularly for young populations.
14 snips
Apr 9, 2024 • 38min
2024:29 Eat the Rich with Nick Hanauer
Venture capitalist Nick Hanauer discusses the need to tax the rich to avoid social unrest. He emphasizes reshaping economic policies to maintain social stability and warns of imminent revolution if inequality persists unchecked. The podcast explores income inequality, contrasting economic views, and proposing wealth redistribution for a more equitable society.
Apr 4, 2024 • 39min
2024:28 The Souk Versus The Citadel with Bassem Youssef
Bassem Youssef, a former cardiologist turned comedian, discusses the Palestinian national story. The conversation explores the global focus on trivial aspects of the conflict instead of the crucial issues. It delves into the dwindling options for Israel and the need for strength to achieve peace. The discussion prompts a reflection on the Jewish homeland and the four remaining options for Israel.
Apr 2, 2024 • 42min
2024:27 Sam Bankman Fried and Male Over-Confidence with Michael Lewis
Crypto entrepreneur SBF and author Michael Lewis discuss male over-confidence, white-collar crime, and the Dunning-Kruger effect in the world of crypto. They explore the evolution of finance, historical market speculation, and the necessity of regulation in the crypto sector.
Mar 28, 2024 • 30min
2024:26 The Curse of Inheritance
Exploring inter-generational wealth in Florence and the persistence of inequality through inheritance. Discussing societal impacts, tax evasion, and the potential for catastrophic social change. Contrast between historical public works funding and modern wealth hoarding. Insights on wealth distribution, inheritance trends, and wealth concentration. Delving into equality of opportunity, wealth dynamics in Ireland, and historical impacts on wealth disparities.
14 snips
Mar 26, 2024 • 40min
2024:25 Should We Copy The Swiss Or Is That Too Cheesy?
Should we adopt Swiss governance principles in Ireland? Examining bottom-up vs. top-down systems, fiscal federalism, and direct democracy. Discussing the influence of Calvinism on Swiss society and the potential for 'Protestant Pragmatism'. Exploring the idea of Irish reunification as a catalyst for redesigning the political system. Advocating for empowering local communities and embracing a reformation mindset for more accountable governance.
Mar 21, 2024 • 28min
2024:24 The Dehumanisation of Curiosity
This podcast delves into the potential ban of TikTok in the US, highlighting the power-play within the tech cartel. It discusses how algorithms have shifted human curiosity to passive consumption, impacting platforms like Spotify and YouTube. The conversation also explores the economics of data and personalization, as well as the manipulation of time and data by technology platforms like TikTok.
Mar 19, 2024 • 41min
2024:23 The Economics of the Creative Mind with Ed Guiney
Delve into the Irish cinematic resurgence with Ed Guiney, mastermind behind Oscar-winning films like 'Brooklyn'. Explore the economics of filmmaking in Ireland, from tax incentives to global success. Uncover the secrets to Ireland's rise as a film hub and the evolution of storytelling on the big screen.
Mar 14, 2024 • 34min
2024:22 The Irish Government, as trustworthy as a Kate Middleton photo-album?
Exploring the distrust towards Irish government, questions on Ireland's progressive identity, societal unrest and political change. Delving into the unique charms of Dunneery, political landscape shifts, emphasis on trust in democracies, and navigating uncertainty amidst societal transformations.
4 snips
Mar 12, 2024 • 30min
2024:21 Bitcoin is Still Not Money
The podcast delves into the controversial nature of Bitcoin, highlighting how it often benefits the wealthy at the expense of unsuspecting individuals. Despite its popularity, Bitcoin lacks key attributes of money and primarily functions as a speculative asset. The host questions who truly benefits from Bitcoin's volatility, especially as big tech and SEC embrace it. The discussion also explores Bitcoin's evolution from a fringe asset to mainstream investment, sparking debates about its countercultural roots and potential bubble-like behavior.
