Debunking Economics - the podcast

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Can we Wörgl our way out of this? Jan 13, 2021

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One big problem as we emerge out of the COVID crisis is, even if we have money we’ll be reluctant to spend it. So, how can the government get us to step up our spending? The answer, perhaps, lies in Austria in the 1930s, when the Mayor of Wörgl issued his town’s own currency, with built in demurrage. Could a new, parallel currency be the way to increase the velocity of money and help the economy bounce back. Could it also be the first big step towards a universal basic income? Prof Steve Keen talks through the benefits with Phil Dobbie.

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The Science of Trumpism Jan 08, 2021

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If you follow the science of Cliodynamics, the events unfolded in the United States the last few years have been entirely predictable. This week Prof Steve Keen talks to Phil Dobbie about the work of Peter Turchin, who has built mathematical models to track changes in society based on economic, demographic and political changes. How much can it tell us about the rise in populism that brought Donald Trump to power? Can it tell us want happens next?

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Steve Keen’s Predictions for 2021 Dec 30, 2020

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Earlier this year Phil Dobbie asked Steve keen for his predictions for 2020. Without a whiff of COVID-19 IN THE AIR, Steve talked of a capitalist economy on government life support. On that he was pretty much on the mark. So what of 2021. In this free edition of the Debunking Economics podcast he explains the reasoning behind his five predictions for the year ahead:

1. Recession in Europe and America as financial aftermath to the COVID crisis.

2. The housing bubble to continue in Australia., but maybe not in Canada.

3. Strong growth in China.

4. A rapid fall in coal mining

5. Severe weather crises in Europe and USA from collapse of Arctic winter sea ice

Phil tries hard to accentuate the positive in Steve’s predictions, but fails miserably. It’s all doom and gloom!

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Are we overstimulating the economy with the COVID-19 response? Dec 23, 2020

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As the US government argues over whether to spend almost another $1 trillion to stimulate an economy ravaged by COVID-19, and the UK government likely to increase public sector borrowing by GBP215 billion this year, plus central banks lowering interest rates to often below zero, is there a chance our response to COVID-19 has been over the top? Some argue that the response, when the economy finally recovers, will be highly inflationary. Whilst others, Steve Keen included, believe deflation is going to be the issue, and it’ll be a long time before we see inflation rising. Phil Dobbie asks whether we’ll see governments use these inflation fears as an argument to curtail spending in 2021, even though the virus is still spreading and the job is far from done. And Merry Christmas to all our listeners. More next week!

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The best approach to foreign trade Dec 16, 2020

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Would the UK be better off with tariffed trade with Europe? The public discourse seems to be focused on how to remove tariffs, but Prof Steve Keen argues that if they are sufficiently high they will encourage domestic production across a variety of industry sectors. The more complex the mix of industries the more self sufficient an economy becomes, which also increases the potential for developing a broader range of exports. The only limitation is scale – but with 65 million people, is Britain big enough to go it alone? Phil Dobbie points to countries with high GDP that have a hefty reliance on foreign trade.

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Are we doing foreign aid wrong? Dec 12, 2020

Show notes

The UK has cut its foreign aid budget to help pay for the domestic costs of COVId-19. Is that a bit of a callous move? That’s a rhetorical question, but there’s a more meaningful question on today’s podcast – is there a better way of managing foreign aid. Steve Keen has worked with agencies dealing with foreign aid, and discusses the failings of the process with Phil Dobbie. Corruption is one issue with the recipient nations, whilst the donor countries often choose destinations that look after their own vested interests. But John Maynard Keynes had an idea that would have made foreign aid more of an automatic process. It’s just America won’t like it very much.

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Is it time for a debt jubilee? Dec 04, 2020

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Steve Keen and Michael Hudson have both been arguing for a debt jubilee for some time. Now, as COVID-19 hits the poorest hardest, and leaves those with money better off than before, is this the right time to write off debt? Can the economy recover without it? After all, its stagnated since the 2008 global financial crisis. If you were to have a debt jubilee, how would you do it. Steve and Michael have different ideas about how it should be implemented. They explain their thinking to Phil Dobbie on this week’s edition of the Debunking Economics podcast.

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Ask Steve: Keynesian v Post Keynesian; Austrian v Chicago Schools Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

It’s a first for the Debunking Economics podcast, but we think it’s not a bad idea – a bunch of listener questions to make sure we are all on the same page. Suneil Basu wrote to ask if we could cover off the differences between Keynesian and Post-Keynesian economics, and the different approaches of the Chicago and Austrian Schools. Also, how did neo-classical economists claim the centre ground? Listen in for Steve’s answers. Also a couple of questions on the EU versus the WTO, and whether Russia had a hand in the Brexit result. SAs we say on the podcast, it’s a grab-bag of questions – but that keeps it interesting (we hope).

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Taming Asset Prices Nov 20, 2020

Show notes

The world economy has undergone massive transformation with COVID-19. There will be an even bigger upheaval as climate change takes hold. How do we prepare for the economic changes it will bring about. The way of coping with the virus emergency has been unprecedented levels of government intervention. Does that mean the only way to transition to a greener economy is through public funding, or can the private sector carry the can? And who manages the transition? Eric Rosengren from the Boston Fed admitted to the FT earlier this year that they don’t have the tools to “stop firms and households” from taking on “excessive leverage”, yet it’s the Fed policy that has created the problem. Phil Dobbie asks Steve Keen whether rising asset prices are a bad thing or not, and if its seen as a problem, what can be done about it?

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Transitioning an economy Nov 12, 2020

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