Podcasts

The collapse of Carillion brought how Britain runs itself into the spotlight, but it also left many workers wondering about their money. And it's not just their wages that are a concern, the safety of people's final salary pensions is a major worry when a company collapses. In this week's podcast, Simon Lambert, Rachel Rickard Straus and Georgie Frost look at how safe your pension is and what backs it up. They also discuss whether it is wise handing over so much of the UK’s public service and projects to private companies looking to turn a profit for shareholders - and what happens to people's finances when that goes wrong? Alongside that we discuss the continuing madness of the cryptocurrency boom, including the alternatives to bitcoin and how ripple rose 84% in 24 hours. We also reveal the savings rate postcode lottery and ask that all important question, should you spend your money now and enjoy it or save it for the kids' inheritance?

Adam speaks with Oxford University Academic Dr. Jeremy Howick, author of Dr. You and an expert on altruism and with Anne Webb, from Oxfam. They discuss why people give up their time to volunteer and whether any behaviour is truly altruistic. With a vast array of psychological, emotional, career and even health benefits they explore whether the purpose of living really is giving.

A second peek at the CES with Steve Caplin getting his teeth into roll-up TVs, smart toothbrushes, smart fridges, smart showers and motorised roller skates and more.

Self-made millionaire and OBE, Charlie Mullins, is the founder and director of Pimlico Plumbers, London's largest independent plumbing company. After his recent revelation that he plans to run for London Mayor, we bring you our Track Record with him from 2016.

The IEA’s Head of Health and Welfare Dr Kristian Niemietz discusses the UK’s national treasure- also known as the National Health Service. In the wake of yet another winter crisis, Kristian explains how other countries manage to avoid system shutdowns every year, mainly through the use of market mechanisms that lead to better efficiencies, and in turn, better patient outcomes. Interviewed by the IEA’s News Editor Kate Andrews, Kristian also addresses the issue of funding, noting that more cash can lead to a more generous healthcare system, but it is not obvious that it would help to solve the bread-and-butter issues facing the NHS, like A&E waiting times and cancer survival rates. Kristian lays out his ideal healthcare system, which he thinks could be a legitimate contender for ‘envy of the world’.

Rachel Laurence and Annie Quick join Laurie Macfarlane to discuss inequality, democracy and the North/South divide in this episode of the New Economics Foundation podcast from the archive.

Ian Forrest, analyst at The Share Centre, looks at the lessons for private investors of the Carillion debacle and at numbers from Burberry and Associated British Foods. He also looks ahead to figures from Easyjet and Diageo.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at the effects of the collapse of Carillion, at whether UK productivity is finally rising and, in London Blockchain Week, what blockchain technology might mean for our futures.

James Cameron-Wilson examines the pickup in UK box office and reviews Darkest Hour, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, MIssouri and Eric Clapton: A Life in 12 Bars.

Adrian Bua is a researcher at the Centre for Urban Research on Austerity. The Centre develops research into austerity and related concepts and practices, such as crisis, resistance, resilience, renaissance and transformation. It brings together activists, students and academics working on these issues to develop new networks and projects. Wolfgang Streeck is Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies. He is a sociologist working on political economy who analyses the trajectory and future of capitalism, democracy and the state in his recent books "Buying Time" (2013) and "How Will Capitalism End" (2016). This podcast discusses the main arguments he develops in these works.