Podcasts from The Bigger Picture

Tim Price of Price Value Partners looks at the psychology of money and investment as discussed in The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. With reference to Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, he discusses why patience, time and compounding are the investor's friend. He gives his opinion on the current irrational state of markets, particularly those linked to tech companies from the viewpoint of a patient, value investor concerned with absolute rather than relative returns. And he explains why he so often invokes the films of John Carpenter when discussing modern markets.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at the Chancellor's new Kickstart scheme to get young people into work and asks whether it's a plan for the future or the past. He assesses whether there could be a breakthrough in UK/EU negotiations and explains why this one will not go right down to the wire. And, in the light of American left-wing protests, he wonders if - by the law of unintended consequences - the protesters might not bring about that which they least want.

Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the government's attempts to reopen schools and encourage people back into offices and how confused its messaging is. He discusses the appointment of Simon Case as Cabinet Secretary, the Chancellor's attempts to reassure Tory MPs about possible tax rises, takes a look across the Atlantic at the rival Conventions and assesses Boris Johnson's performance at the first PMQs since the summer recess.

With French warships sent to the eastern Mediterranean, Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University discusses why Turkey's actions are exacerbating tensions in the region and why Erdogan is so concerned about his legacy. He looks at the options available to President Putin as he watches the unrest in Belarus. And he takes a look at Qatar, a tiny kingdom in the Middle East punching well above its weight and with a well-conceived plan for the future which Britain could do well to study and learn from.

Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the English exam debacle, asking why the government stuck to using the algorithm, despite being told it would not work. He gives his own marks to Education Minister Gavin Williamson. He looks at the scrapping of Public Health England and wonders if it is a wise move. And he looks across the Atlantic to Joe Biden's pick of Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University examines the Government's ideas for reforming Britain's planning system and suggests what the ramifications might be for solving the country's housing problems. As an economist shows that the UK economy has been bouncing back faster than over comparable countries, he looks at a think tank's ideas for introducing e-businesses as a way of giving Britain a post-Covid boost.

Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the Government's obesity strategy and its decision to target junk food advertising. He considers the significance of the announced planning reforms, whether local lockdowns are the right way forward and tries to make sense of the COVID border policy. He also looks at the prospects for the American Presidential Election with three months to go.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at what the Covid-19 home-working revolution might mean to Britain's middle classes, who could find that their jobs no longer need to be done by people within the UK. He also considers what the changed work environment might mean to the status and role of London and the City. He also warns that we should be paying attention to the danger in the mounting tension between Australia and China.

Tim Price, director of Price Value Partners, looks at the government's response to the onset of Covid-19 and considers the likely effects of the economic measures taken. Wondering why equities have been so buoyant ahead of what he believes will be the worst economic depression anybody alive has experienced, he wonders why the mainstream media has been so unquestioning and why so little attention has been paid to the economic effects of lockdown. Although highly nervous of most stocks and bonds, he does offer suggestions for investors similarly concerned for the future.