Podcast Episodes

Financing the war on cancer

Season 1 Episode 10

New drugs mean that many types of cancer are no longer a death sentence. But new medical treatments may have a catastrophic financial cost for patients. Tim Phillips talks to Ralph Koijen about how l…

Published on 7 years, 2 months ago

Explaining Germany's recovery

Season 1 Episode 9

In 1997 Germany was called "the sick man of Europe". So what is behind its exceptional recovery? Tim Phillips talks to Dalia Marin, the editor of a new VoxEU ebook that explains what Germany did, and…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

Tax evasion and inequality

Season 1 Episode 8

It's routine for the rich to dodge tax by hiding it offshore. But how much of their wealth are they hiding illegally? Tim Phillips talks to Annette Alstadsæter of the Norwegian University of Life Sci…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

Robots and jobs

Season 1 Episode 7

If the robots are coming for our jobs, how many of us will they actually replace? Tim Phillips talks to MIT's Daron Acemoglu who argues that the robot apocalypse isn't going to happen just yet.

If yo…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

Will central banks issue digital currencies?

Season 1 Episode 6

Economists have long been sceptical of the potential of cryptocurrencies and other electronic forms of money. But are central banks coming round to the idea? Tim Phillips asks Beatrice Weder di Mauro…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

The UK’s post-Brexit US trade deal

Season 1 Episode 5

When President Trump recently spoke of his hope for "a great bilateral trade agreement” with the UK after Brexit, what did he really mean? Tim Phillips interviews Dennis Novy of the University of War…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

What caused the growth of the Sicilian Mafia?

Season 1 Episode 4

We all know how films and television tell the story of the Mafia, but what can economics tell us about its origins? Tim Phillips talks to Giuseppe De Feo about a new paper that tells the story of how…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

The stubbornly high cost of remittances

Season 1 Episode 3

For the families of millions of migrant workers around the world, remittances can literally be a life-saver. But the cost of sending money home remains puzzlingly high. So why aren't remittances gett…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

The return of regional inequality

Season 1 Episode 2

For most of the 20th century, inequality between Europe's regions declined. But what has happened in the last 40 years? New historical data gives us the answer. Tim Phillips talks to Joan Rosés of th…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago

How blockchain technology is changing finance

Season 1 Episode 1

Blockchain technology has the potential to be a catalyst for change in the financial sector. But can it overcome its technical limitations and governance problems? Tim Phillips talks to Simon Johnson…

Published on 7 years, 3 months ago