Podcasts

In this first episode of the new series of Policy Matters, hosts Franz Buscha and Matt Dickson spent some time reflecting back on their previous guests and discuss some of the key messages that each episode brought up. Why is social mobility important? Are grammar schools good for social mobility? Are there upsides to vocational education and why should HE students take care when selecting degrees? Both Matt and Franz highlight particular lessons learned and how they relate to current policy. Franz and Matt then look forward to this new season of Policy Matters and discuss topics such as health, crime, gender and happiness that will be explored in more detail in future episodes.

We may be leaving the EU – but what should our mode of departure look like? Today we’re joined by the IEA’s Head of Health and Welfare Dr Kristian Niemietz, and Associate Director Kate Andrews – to discuss the pros and cons of the so-called ‘Norway Option’ – a form of Brexit under which the UK would leave the European Customs Union, but remain in the Single Market. The ‘Norway model’ refers to two key European organisations: The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and European Economic Area (EEA). Norway (along with Liechtenstein and Iceland) is a member of both. And the idea has been gaining traction recently, with the government’s Chequers model looking unpalatable to EU negotiators, and the British public alike. Yet although Kristian is a proponent of the Norway option – it’s not quite as simple as that. He would probably back a Hard Brexit – provided we had a realistic chance of becoming a deregulating, free trading outside of the Single Market. Unfortunately, here the Zeitgeist is very much against free market types, he argues.

Political commentator Mike Indian, author of The Groucho Tendency blog, discusses the international response to the UK's conclusions that Russia WAS responsible for the Novichok poisonings. He also examines the anonymous New York Times article written by a Trump administration insider, as well as looking at the resignation of Labour's Frank Field and the party's attempts to get on top of the antisemitism row.

Steve Caplin goes on the road, telling us about autonomous cars with eyes, shape-shifting car seats, Rolls Royce's new top-end "privacy suite", a full-size sports car made of Lego, Kalashnikov's electric "supercar" and how Tesla has brought the computer sense of the word "crash" to motoring.

Ian Forrest of The Share Centre looks at recent announcements from WPP, D S Smith, William Hill and Melrose Industries and looks ahead to what we might expect from Associated British Foods.

James Cameron-Wilson casts his eye over a quieter week at the UK box office. He reviews web thriller Searching and outrageous puppet movie The Happytime Murders. He also discusses the French movie Custody, now out for home release.

What should investors be watching for the rest of 2018? What are investors missing in today’s market? Analysts Jason Moser and Matt Argersinger tackle those questions and share a few stocks on their radar. Plus, best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell...

Adam talks to Galia Yakimova, a life coach and wellbeing concierge who found her true purpose when her salon was forced to close after 12 years. They discuss how, while a few people know their calling, many don’t discover their true purpose until they go through a crisis. They discuss how pain can be a source of purpose while Galia shares her Wheel of Wellbeing, a tool that can make an instant difference to how people feel.

Graham Spooner of The Share Centre looks back at results from Bunzl and James Fisher and looks at why UK markets are so lacklustre compared to those making fresh highs in the United States. He also looks ahead to forthcoming results from WPP, Barratt Developments, Berkeley Group and Melrose Industries.