Podcasts

One underexplored aspect of the global economy in recent decades has been an explosion in the creation, issuing and enforcement of regulations. But is this emerging regulatory state necessary in the modern age, both to protect consumers and adapt to the changing needs of contemporary trade - or is this weight of regulation excessive and harmful to competition? Some even argue that such rules - often issued by unelected officials and removed from the electorate - represent a threat to democracy itself? Britain’s withdrawal from the EU has revived interest in these issues, since the UK may soon be extricating itself from a weight of historic regulatory rules dating back to the Maastricht Treaty. Yet increasing regulation is actually part of a global trend, with the US, China, and to a lesser extent, Japan also defining the trade landscape through their different regimes. Today, the IEA's Head of Education Dr Steve Davies makes the case that the regulatory state, and its push for harmonisation, is damaging competition. Back in 1970s Europe, he argues, you could determine good regulations from the bad by monitoring each country’s individual rules and regulations and learning from best practice. On our podcast today, Steve and the IEA’s Associate Director Kate Andrews discuss these topics and more.

Adam reviews some of Modern Mindset episodes in this Christmas edition of the show.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University takes a look at the government's immigration proposals and reveals that, on the subject of immigration, he himself is to the left of Jeremy Corbyn. He also discusses a Fabian Society paper about extradition rights and the EAW after Brexit and looks ahead to 2019, which will be a massive year for elections around the world.

Ian Forrest of The Share Centre looks back at the shock news from Asos, as well as Boohoo's more encouraging statement. He looks at numbers from Petrofac and GlaxoSmithKline's healthcare merger with Pfizer. He discusses the latest inflation and retail sales numbers and the Bank of England's decision to keep interest rates unchanged, unlike the US Fed.

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the new leader of the UK box office, Aquaman, disappointed that it beat Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to the top slot, a movie he considers far superior. He is less than impressed with Mortal Engines, debuting at #5. He points out that while only 4 films made over £40m in UK cinemas last year, this year over 8 have exceeded that take with overall attendance the highest since 1971. James also has a look at the nominations announced for the London Film Critics Circle awards.

Steve Caplin looks back at some of the most notable gadgets & gizmos of 2018. He reminds us of some of the tech disasters, looks at some of his favourite gadgets and highlights some impressive innovations. So, as well as the council that forgot to ask itself for planning permission for charging benches, we get jet suits, printed food, car windows for blind passengers, self-parking slippers, edible QR codes, contactless buskers and, of course, cuboid wombat poo's implications for manufacturing.

Nobody can escape the Brexit bedlam that has been playing out before our eyes, especially in the last week. In between backstops, trade deals, Norway, contempt of parliament, no-confidence, withdrawing withdrawal votes… what is really going on? Editor Simon Lambert, assistant editor Lee Boyce and host Georgie Frost discuss Brexit in the latest This is Money podcast. Are we going to leave? Should we really have a second referendum and can you do anything to Brexit-proof your cash? We talk it all through in our Brexit special. Outside the Brexit bubble, we look into those DNA self-testing kits being plugged by a number of firms as the perfect Christmas gift – could you get more than you bargained for? Simon reveals the best and worst performing funds of 2018 so far, in Top of the Pops fashion and Lee runs down the clever apps from challengers looking to encourage the savings habit.

Want to keep up with the latest earnings updates from the States? Well join Chris Hill and the Motley Fool Radio Show team here on Share Radio, direct from Washington DC, for news, views and analysis of the US stocks that matter. In this week's show: Johnson & Johnson falls on health concerns over the company’s baby powder; Under Armour gets a rough reception after its investor day; And Starbucks announces plans to deliver coffee in the U.S. and double its store count in China; Analysts Andy Cross, Ron Gross, and Jason Moser discuss those stories and the latest from Adobe Systems, Markel, and Casey’s General Stores; Plus, CNBC host Carl Quintanilla previews 2019 and talks cannabis, Facebook, and General Electric.

In this week's podcast, we were joined by the IEA's Head of Political Economy, Kristian Niemietz, the author of a recent paper which ventures into the realm of fiction to examine the fundamental flaws of socialism. Kristian and Editorial Manager Madeline Grant discuss the popular meme that socialism is a great idea in theory, but only fails due to bad implementation, or corrupt officials - as advocated by trendy millennial socialists today. Kristian debunks this idea, but explores how it has been extremely influential in art, culture and fiction over the last century. We look at why it has proven so compelling, and whether free marketeers need to do more to make the moral and philosophical case for capitalism - as well as arguing on raw economic grounds.