Recorded live at the PSE-CEPR Policy Forum at the Paris School of Economics. Does economic inequality create political inequality? Julia Cagé tells Tim Phillips about the strategies that rich people can use to influence the political debate, how democracy is undermined when the wealthy have access to power – and how we can change the system to restore the confidence of voters.

S6 Ep31: Political inequality

Recorded live at the PSE-CEPR Policy Forum at the Paris School of Economics. India is still one of the five worst countries in the world for the health and survival of women. The recent introduction of massive health insurance programmes should help close this deadly gender gap. But is that happening? Pascaline Dupas of Stanford talks to Tim Phillips.

S6 Ep30: Closing the Gender gap in healthcare

From the PSE-CEPR Policy Forum at the Paris School of Economics, Tim Phillips meets three of the young researchers who were chosen to present to the conference. Duncan Webb and Thiago Scarelli of PSE, and Carmen Villa-Llera of the University of Warwick talk about their research – and what their hopes are for the future of economics.

S6 Ep29: The next generation of research

Is innovation our best hope for dealing with climate change and, if so, how can we stimulate the sort of innovation that we need to make the green energy transition? Philippe Aghion tells Tim Phillips that we need both carbon tax and industrial policy and, like a visit to the dentist, the pain gets worse the longer we wait.

S6 Ep28: Aghion: Is green growth possible?

From the PSE-CEPR Policy Forum at the Paris School of Economics. The IFS in the UK and the IPP in France combine rigorous research with a commitment to communicate the results to media and public. How do they make sure their message cuts through the noise, and how do they safeguard their reputations for independence and authority? Paul Johnson and Antoine Bozio talk to Tim Phillips.

S6 Ep27: Johnson and Bozio: Can research influence policy?

From the PSE-CEPR Policy Forum at the Paris School of Economics. What caused inflation in the US, where will it settle, and how much unemployment will be the cost of bringing it back to target? Olivier Blanchard talks to Tim Phillips.

S6 Ep26: Blanchard: What caused US inflation?

In the first of a series of podcasts recorded at the PSE-CEPR Policy Forum at the Paris School of Economics, Esther Duflo talks to Tim Phillips about how development economics can respond to the challenges of the 21st century, the link between climate justice and corporate taxation, and why development economics is like cooking a ragoût.

S6 Ep25: Duflo: Development in the 21st century

Is economics a young person’s game? Great mathematicians tend to peak early, but not great artists – so which category does a professor of economics fall into? Dan Hamermesh has investigated the productivity of economists as they grow old, and he tells Tim Phillips what he discovered.

S6 Ep24: Do economists slow down as they age?

Voters fret that immigration overcrowds local schools, overwhelms hospitals, and that they will have to pay higher taxes as a result. Are those fears justified? Anna Maria Mayda and Mine Senses have separated fact from fiction, and they tell Tim Phillips about which US counties benefit most and least from the arrival of immigrants.

S6 Ep23: Immigration and public goods

Do Europe’s trade sanctions hurt Russia, or do they hurt European firms more? Gauging the impact of sanctions isn’t easy or reliable, but Jean Imbs tells Tim Phillips about a new way to estimate their effects, and what it tells us about the economies of Russia and Europe.

S6 Ep22: The impact of trade sanctions

Learn about groundbreaking new research, commentary and policy ideas from the world's leading economists. Presented by Tim Phillips.

The host is great at drawing out interesting info from his interviewees while sticking to a compact timeline of around 20 minutes. Ideal for commutes.

Pithy and informative

VoxTalks Economics

This year's Nobel prize celebrated the work of the economists who popularised randomised controlled trials, “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty”. But is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Tim Phillips investigates. Picture © Nobel Media 2019. Illustration: Niklas Elmehed.

This year's Nobel prize celebrated the work of the economists who popularised randomised controlled trials, “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty”. But is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Tim Phillips investigates. Picture © Nobel Media 2019. Illustration: Niklas Elmehed.

S2 Ep52: Has the randomista revolution gone too far?

Starting on the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the second world war, VoxEU is publishing a series of articles about the economics of the war. Tim Phillips talks to some of the authors about their research.  Read more about the project at VoxEU.

Starting on the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the second world war, VoxEU is publishing a series of articles about the economics of the war. Tim Phillips talks to some of the authors about their research. Read more about the project <a href="https://voxeu.org/debates/economics-second-world-war-eighty-years-0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">at VoxEU</a>.

S2 Ep36: The economic history of World War 2

Randomised controlled trials have revolutionised development policy. But do the interventions that work in the short run have a benefit 10 or 20 years later? Ted Miguel tells Tim Phillips how he and his colleagues aim to find out.

Randomised controlled trials have revolutionised development policy. But do the interventions that work in the short run have a benefit 10 or 20 years later? Ted Miguel tells Tim Phillips how he and his colleagues aim to find out.

S2 Ep13: RCTs in the long run

A new data set compiles the history of international finance spanning a century and a half, revealing new information about globalisation, crises and capital flows. Rui Esteves of the Graduate Institute, Geneva, tells Tim Phillips what lessons it offers for policymakers today.

A new data set compiles the history of international finance spanning a century and a half, revealing new information about globalisation, crises and capital flows. Rui Esteves of the Graduate Institute, Geneva, tells Tim Phillips what lessons it offers for policymakers today.

S2 Ep7: A history of international finance

It blows the minds of economists when voters choose protectionist policies that, they point out, make most of them poorer. Gene Grossman tells Tim Phillips how trade models can explain this, if they incorporate insights from other social sciences.

It blows the minds of economists when voters choose protectionist policies that, they point out, make most of them poorer. Gene Grossman tells Tim Phillips how trade models can explain this, if they incorporate insights from other social sciences.

S2 Ep2: Why we vote for protectionism

Few countries tax their citizens' wealth annually, but Switzerland is one of them. Marius Brülhart tells Tim Phillips about a natural experiment in Switzerland's cantons that teaches us about how people would respond if more countries decided to tax wealth instead of income.

S2 Ep49: Wealth taxes

Doing a good job of deciding who can borrow is fundamental for the global economy. Stefania Albanesi tells Tim Phillips that current consumer credit ratings do a poor job at predicting which of us will default, and explains how she has used machine learning to improve them.

S2 Ep45: How to improve consumer credit ratings

Did the KGB manage its informers using the iron fist or the invisible hand? Mark Harrison tells Tim Phillips how the state motivated and disciplined its secret workforce. Read more of Mark's research on the Soviet Union here, here, and here. And the paper on Stasi activity in Germany he referred to is here.

Did the KGB manage its informers using the iron fist or the invisible hand? Mark Harrison tells Tim Phillips how the state motivated and disciplined its secret workforce. Read more of Mark's research on the Soviet Union <a href="https://voxeu.org/article/soviet-economy-1917-1991-its-life-and-afterlife" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://voxeu.org/article/russia-s-national-income-war-and-revolution-1913-1928" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://voxeu.org/article/costing-secrecy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. And the paper on Stasi activity in Germany he referred to is <a href="https://www.iza.org/publications/dp/9245/the-economic-costs-of-mass-surveillance-insights-from-stasi-spying-in-east-germany" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.

S2 Ep20: Managing the secret state

We think about political polarization as a disagreement about policies. But what if the voters can't even agree on the facts? Stefanie Stantcheva tells Tim Phillips about new research that has profound implications for democracy.

S3 Ep11: The polarization of reality

We all want happy, successful kids, so how can economics help? Fabrizio Zilibotti of Yale talks to Tim Phillips about the research that he and his peers have done into parenting and what it tells us. Here's a VoxEU column by Fabrizio, and here's a link to his book.

We all want happy, successful kids, so how can economics help? Fabrizio Zilibotti of Yale talks to Tim Phillips about the research that he and his peers have done into parenting and what it tells us. Here's a <a href="https://voxeu.org/article/economics-parenting" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">VoxEU column by Fabrizio</a>, and <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/titles/13326.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here's a link to his book</a>.

S2 Ep11: Love, money and parenting

France has surprisingly low social mobility. OECD chief economist Laurence Boone tells Tim Phillips why this is the case, how the problem fuels the gilets jaunes protests, and what can be done about it.

France has surprisingly low social mobility. OECD chief economist Laurence Boone tells Tim Phillips why this is the case, how the problem fuels the gilets jaunes protests, and what can be done about it.

S2 Ep30: France's broken social elevator

Children in different countries start school at very different ages. Thomas Cornelissen tells Tim Phillips about new research that suggests an early start may help their development.  Check out the research on VoxEU.org

Children in different countries start school at very different ages. Thomas Cornelissen tells Tim Phillips about new research that suggests an early start may help their development. <a href="https://voxeu.org/article/benefits-starting-school-early" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check out the research on VoxEU.org</a>

S2 Ep28: The benefits of starting school early

Who will be the biggest loser in this trade war? Chad Bown tells Tim Phillips why it could be the WTO's dispute resolution system, and why we should worry if this happens.

Who will be the biggest loser in this trade war? Chad Bown tells Tim Phillips why it could be the WTO's dispute resolution system, and why we should worry if this happens.

S2 Ep19: The end of the WTO?

A century ago, American nativists succeeded in establishing immigration quotas to drive up the wages of US workers. What happened next? Not what you might think, Leah Boustan tells Tim Phillips.

S3 Ep7: The history of immigration quotas

On 17 October 2018, Canada legalised recreational cannabis use, with an immediate effect on how Canadian people use cash. Jonathan Ashworth explains to Tim Phillips how legalisation crimps the black economy. Read our VoxEU column on the topic.

On 17 October 2018, Canada legalised recreational cannabis use, with an immediate effect on how Canadian people use cash. Jonathan Ashworth explains to Tim Phillips how legalisation crimps the black economy. Read our <a href="https://voxeu.org/article/canadian-legalisation-cannabis-reduces-both-cash-usage-and-black-economy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">VoxEU column</a> on the topic.

S2 Ep6: Legal cannabis and the black economy

How much is spent on end-of-life care, and who foots the bill? Eric French of UCL tells Tim Phillips about the total cost of the last year of our lives, and how different countries have very different ideas of who should pay it.  Read about the research at VoxEU.org, and download the VoxEU book about the economics of ageing.

How much is spent on end-of-life care, and who foots the bill? Eric French of UCL tells Tim Phillips about the total cost of the last year of our lives, and how different countries have very different ideas of who should pay it. Read about <a href="https://voxeu.org/article/end-life-medical-expenses" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the research at VoxEU.org</a>, and <a href="https://voxeu.org/content/live-long-and-prosper-economics-ageing-populations" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">download the VoxEU book</a> about the economics of ageing.

S2 Ep43: The cost of dying

The mobile internet, promises to give us access to information anywhere, 24 hours a day. So how has it influenced trust in governments, politics, and politicians? Sergei Guriev tells Tim Phillips about how, all over the world, 3G has reduced trust in government and aided the rise of populism.

S2 Ep48: How the mobile internet changed politics

As the G20 gather in Japan, Tim Phillips talks to Simon Evenett, one of the authors of the Global Trade Alert, on how the ministers can halt the "free for all" on protectionism.   Download the 24th Global Trade Alert by visiting VoxEU.org

As the G20 gather in Japan, Tim Phillips talks to Simon Evenett, one of the authors of the <a href="https://www.globaltradealert.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Global Trade Alert</a>, on how the ministers can halt the "free for all" on protectionism. <a href="https://voxeu.org/article/jaw-jaw-not-war-war-prioritising-wto-reform-options" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download the 24th Global Trade Alert</a> by visiting <a href="http://VoxEU.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">VoxEU.org</a>

S2 Ep26: How the G20 can save world trade

The award is given to the best European economist under 45. This year, Oriana Bandiera of LSE and Imran Rasul of UCL share the prize. They talk to Tim Phillips about their work, and #whateconomistsreallydo.

The award is given to the best European economist under 45. This year, Oriana Bandiera of LSE and Imran Rasul of UCL share the prize. They talk to Tim Phillips about their work, and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23whateconomistsreallydo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">#whateconomistsreallydo</a>.

S2 Ep22: The Yrjo Jahnsson award

Are Italy's populist policies of miniBOTs and flat taxes the right medicine for its economic sickness? Fabio Ghironi tells Tim Phillips that, if Italy doesn't attempt fundamental structural reforms, it may be on the path to Eurexit.

S2 Ep27: Italy is a very sick patient

The best self improvement podcast episodes. From improving productivity, to finding purpose in your life to what constitutes freedom, this topic is on anything and everything that can help people to improve their lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Self Improvement, Growth & Development

The best podcast episodes on romantic relationships. Episodes talk about the 5 love languages, intimacy, and the taboo topics of sexual desires and infidelity. This topic is a deep dive into the science and complexities that face us in our relationships with others. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!