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
Feb 10, 2022 • 43min
212 - The full shilling? The case for crypto as a speculative asset - but a currency, eh no!
Crypto has captured the imagination of many as way to get rich quick - but few are able to agree or even explain what it actually is. In today’s conversation we are joined by Michael Saylor, one of the biggest bitcoin holder, to explain what it is and how you might be using it - spoiler alert: he doesn’t think it’s a currency either! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 8, 2022 • 44min
211 - Understanding inflation through the man behind the FED in America
Behind every decision is human beings, who they are, how they act & where they’re from is critical to understanding the context in which any given decision is taken. In light of the announced interest rate hikes we attempt to pull back the curtain and understand who is Jerome Powell (besides the chair of the federal reserve of the United States) - because his actions in the coming year will ripple across the world Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 3, 2022 • 40min
210 - Russian tensions explained & pub economics
Russia has been dominating headlines as of late and clickbait titles want you to believe that World War 3 is on the horizon - What is really happening in Russia? Join us as we hear from people living there what news they are hearing and how they see this large scale posturing play out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 1, 2022 • 37min
209 - If global warming is the question, free public transport is the answer
With the return to office happening all around the world, we’re seeing old problems come back; namely, traffic and congestion in cities. This is something we can, and should, solve - join us as we look at how we make it work for everyone. Plus on the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses, what would Leopold Bloom have to say about traffic, land tax and urban economics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 27, 2022 • 36min
208 - Breaking down the metaverse & why we we need to disconnect
There’s massive amounts of money being thrown around by people who are trying to invest in the metaverse… so what exactly is it? And perhaps more importantly: is it a necessary or even a desirable future that these companies are setting up for us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 25, 2022 • 50min
207 - What's happening in finance, why all the crashing? Plus, the key to unlocking the Irish economy
We breakdown what is happening with the falling stocks in the tech sector by talking about bonds, inflation and returns on investment before looking at the state of the Irish economy as we emerge from lockdown. Spoiler alert: Housing is involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 20, 2022 • 42min
206 - Is it Last call for Boris Johnson?
Today is about the UK: as Boris Johnson fights for his political life we breakdown the timeline of events that brought us here, when & how this all might end and finally: what is legacy might be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 18, 2022 • 32min
205 - Can the centre hold?
WB Yeats in his poem "The Second Coming", described a world, 100 odd years ago, where the forces of economics and politics meant that "things fall apart" and "the centre cannot hold". In many ways he was right. In 1922, the centre didn't hold, not in Ireland, not anywhere. Things did fall apart. Today we look at the complexion of Irish society as it is, not as sloganeers might want it to be and ask the same question. Are we on the path of seismic change or something more gradual? The figures might surprise you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 13, 2022 • 44min
204 - The Origin of Covid. Where precisely did it come from?
Where exactly did Covid come from? Today’s episode tackles the origin of Covid, where did it come from, the food chain or a lab leak? A lab leak opens the door to all sorts of questions, geo-political, scientific and ethical. In fact, its one of the most important questions surrounding the pandemic and yet, it is the question few have asked? Conventional wisdom says it jumped from bats to animals in a Wuhan market, what it this is not true? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 11, 2022 • 33min
203 - Is this the year crypto crashes?
I've no idea whether crypto and Bitcoin in particular will crash, double or stay where it is. No one does. In economic terms, cryptocurrency is definitely SOMETHING, but at this stage, it is patently not money. Join us as we explain how Bitcoin is clearly an asset, but its is definitely not money. Why a good way to look at money is to imagine it is like language and why money is a technology not a commodity. Could 2022 be the year to be cautious around the speculative asset that is crypto or time to double down despite recent declines? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
