The Sound of Economics

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced the EU to reassess its ties with both Moscow and Beijing. As the EU navigates its dependencies on Russian energy, Chinese markets, and US security, how is its long-term strategy evolving? Can Europe maintain a unified stance on China? And what does this mean for global power dynamics? In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan is joined by Alicia...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie discusses Ireland's economy with Eamon Gilmore , former Foreign Minister, and Patrick Honohan, former Governor of the Irish Central Bank. They explore Ireland’s recovery from the global financial crisis and current political outlook, alongside issues such as public debt, low interest rates, and rebuilding national confidence. The con...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie is joined by Jeromin Zettelmeyer and Peter Praet to discuss the economic outlook for Europe and the United States, the impact of prospective tariffs, and the role of monetary and fiscal policies. The conversation touches on the impact of geopolitical uncertainties, structural reforms, and the ongoing debate around defence spending in Euro...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, we examine the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape in Europe, driven by the ongoing war in Ukraine, shifting alliances, and the changing role of the United States in NATO. Host Rebecca Christie is joined by Bruegel experts Heather Grabbe and Guntram B. Wolff to discuss the critical questions facing European policymakers: What level of financial and mi...

Since the bursting of China’s real-estate bubble in mid-2021, there has been a growing concern that the country’s economy could end up like that of Japan in the early 1990s. In this episode of the Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan invites Alicia García-Herrero and Jianwei Xu to discuss China’s structural deceleration, the striking similarities and key differences with Japan’s experience, and what thi...

Ahead of Germany’s federal elections on February 23 2025, Rebecca Christie invites Jens Suedekum and Niclas Poitiers to take a look at the country’s economic situation, what needs to be fixed and how. This election may decide which fundamental economic strategy Germany pursues for the next years, with implications for Europe and the world. They discuss why it has been so hard for Berlin to change...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics , host Rebecca Christie is joined by Laurence Tubiana , CEO of the European Climate Foundation, and Bruegel fellows Jean Pisani-Ferry and Alissa M. Kleinnijenhuis to discuss the urgent financial steps needed to address climate change: Now that the US has pulled back, the EU is needed more than ever to help mobilise crucial funds and guard against the costs...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics , we delve into the future of space in Europe, examining the challenges and opportunities ahead. Host Rebecca Christie , Senior Fellow at Bruegel, is joined by Hermann Ludwig Moeller , Director of the European Space Policy Institute, and Reinhilde Veugelers , Bruegel Senior fellow. Together, they discuss the financial landscape of space exploration, the ro...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics , Yuyun Zhan invites Alicia Garcia Herrero and Ana Krstinovska to delve into China's expanding footprint in the Western Balkans and its implications for Europe's economic security and strategic autonomy. They explore the region's strategic importance and analyze how China's developments in the region impact the EU's neighborhood policy and economic securit...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics , host Rebecca Christie speaks with Bruegel’s first Director and co-founder, Jean Pisani-Ferry , Senior fellow and co-founder Nicolas Véron , and Board member Caroline de Gruyter on the occasion of the think tank’s 20th anniversary. Their conversation takes us on a journey that spans fateful lunches and parliamentary dramas, choosing a location and funding...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics , Rebecca Christie sits down with MEP Aura Salla and Bruegel Senior Fellow Fiona Scott Morton to discuss the EU’s evolving tech regulation landscape. The conversation spans critical issues such as the Digital Markets Act, GDPR enforcement, data sovereignty, and the EU’s quest to foster innovation while curbing the dominance of global tech giants. With insi...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie is joined by James Baxter , Ambassador, Australian Permanent Mission to the WTO, and Ignacio García Bercero , a Bruegel Non-resident fellow and former EU trade official, to discuss the 30-year journey of the World Trade Organization. Together, they examine the achievements and crises that have shaped the WTO, delve into the challenges pos...

How will the EU springboard from the tumult of 2024 to meet the challenges ahead? In this episode of the Sound of Economics, Bruegel director Jeromin Zettelmeyer and senior fellows Heather Grabbe and André Sapir discuss the year that was with host Rebecca Christie . Industrial policy, tensions with China and the U.S., and green transition’s immense financing needs all figure in to Europe’s quest t...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie invites Heather Grabbe and Thomas Viegas to explore the intersection of biodiversity and economic policy. The discussion highlights the critical importance of integrating nature conservation into financial frameworks. The guests delve into systemic risks posed by biodiversity loss, the role of public and private finance, and strategies to...

The EU’s Global Gateway Initiative aims to mobilize €300 billion for global infrastructure by 2027, but how does it compare to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)? Host Yuyun Zhan discusses this with Alicia García-Herrero and Romana Vlahutin . They explore the initiative’s origins, progresses and challenges, and how Europe can sharpen its strategy to balance development goals with economic inte...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie invites Johanna Breuer , Emmanuel Mourlon-Druol and Federico Fabbrini to delve into the intricate dynamics of European public goods and how to pay for them. Together, they explore the historical, legal, and political foundations of joint European financing—tracing its evolution from the post-WWII period to recent crises like the pandemic...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie invites Heather Grabbe , Luca Léry Moffat and Janez Potočnik to talk about turning Europe’s economy circular by making resources go further. They discuss the environmental and economic cases for Europe to use fewer resources, and why moving to a circular economy is essential in the fight against climate change. They also discuss examples...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan invites Alicia García-Herrero , Théo Storella and Moritz Rudolf to delve into China's evolving role in the United Nations and its broader global governance strategy. They explore the initiatives shaping China's influence in the United Nations, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and discuss the implicati...

9 November 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall - a pivotal moment that led to German reunification. In this special episode of The Sound of Economics , we step beyond the realm of economic policy to explore the personal and historical impact of reunification. Rebecca Christie is joined by Bruegel fellows Marek Dabrowski , Guntram Wolff , and Georg Zachmann . Our speakers...

 In this special live episode of The Sound of Economics podcast, Rebecca Christie sits down with Bruegel’s Heather Grabbe , Fiona M. Scott Morton and Guntram B. Wolff to discuss next steps after the U.S. elections on Nov. 5. How will Europe work with the new President and new Congress? What will this mean for Ukraine? What will each side prioritize to stay competitive? Join us for a Europe-centric...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics , Rebecca Christie sits down with Bruegel's Ben McWilliams and Rhodium's Senior Analyst Marie Tamba to talk about the solar energy transition, and how better information on investment and deployment can lead to better policy. Data trends in the EU and the U.S. offer insights into where clean energy is ramping up and what steps will help going forward. They...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics,  Yuyun Zhan invites Alicia García-Herrero and Alfred Schipke to explore the stimulus package China announced in late September 2024. They discuss why the Chinese government introduced these new measures, the key components of the package, especially how it addresses the real estate crisis and local government debt issues. Garcia Herrero notes that the sti...

While the term Japanification is usually taken negatively, Japan actually managed a very challenging economic situation with an ageing population and low productivity growth. As the rest of the world grapples with the same structural decline in population, Rebecca Christie sits down with Jacob Funk Kirkegaard and Takeshi Tashiro to explore what lessons Europe and beyond can learn from Japan’s expe...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics , Conor Brummell explores the topic of multilingualism within the European Union. He is joined by language experts Margo Sjis , Head of the Dutch Unit in DG Interpretation of the European Commission and Merje Laht , Head of the Estonian Unit in DG Interpretation of the European Commission and Aislínn McCrory , Head of the Irish Translations Unit in the Eur...

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie invites Bruegel’s own Simone Tagliapietr a and Cecilia Trasi , as well as Jacob Werksman , Principal Adviser of European Commission’s DG Clima, to examine the EU’s global green agenda and the challenges of balancing decarbonisation, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy. They discuss how the EU’s green geoeconomic approach should suppor...