Economics Explored

Gene Tunny and Darren Brady Nelson discuss the economic legacy of President Jimmy Carter, highlighting his deregulation efforts, particularly in aviation, which led to increased competition and significant cost savings. They also touch on Carter’s appointment of Paul Volcker as Federal Reserve Chairman, credited with fighting inflation. The conversation shifts to the America Fest conference in Pho...

Show host Gene Tunny discusses the ineffectiveness of the U.S. debt ceiling, citing its frequent increases and the political grandstanding it entails. He notes that since 1960, Congress has amended the debt limit 78 times. Tunny argues that the debt ceiling does not enforce fiscal discipline and highlights the need for better fiscal rules, such as the Swiss Debt Brake or the Taxpayer Bill of Right...

Coffee prices have surged dramatically over the past year, with green coffee increasing by 78%. In this episode, International Coffee Traders GM Raihaan Esat joins hosts Gene Tunny and Tim Hughes to explore the key drivers behind this spike, including harvest shortages, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical factors. Discover why your morning brew may soon cost more and how the coffee industry...

This episode explores the economic implications of Trump’s re-election, France’s political deadlock under Macron, and the future of global capitalism. Jean-Baptiste Wautier, a private equity investor and World Economic Forum speaker, shares insights on trade wars and deficits. He argues that short-term profit motives undermine the global capitalist system. Jean-Baptiste also discusses AI's transfo...

Host Gene Tunny discusses significant economic issues from the year. He features clips from interviews with experts on various topics, including the economic consequences of Donald Trump's re-election, the U.S. budget deficit, the gender pay gap, and environmental impact. President Reagan’s budget director David Stockman criticizes Trump’s policies for being anti-capitalist, citing a $8 trillion i...

Professor Amar Bhidé of Columbia University discusses his new book “Uncertainty and Enterprise”, published by Oxford University Press. It emphasizes the limitations of standard economic models that rely on probability distributions. He argues that entrepreneurship involves dealing with unique, non-quantifiable uncertainties, which require imagination and narrative skills. Bhide critiques the over-...

Dr Vuk Vukovic, economist and founder of Oraclum Capital, joins Gene Tunny to discuss elite networks, their economic impact, and the future of democracy. Delving into his research, Dr Vukovic examines how political connections affect income inequality and corporate success. He shares his innovative Bayesian approach to predicting financial and political trends, offering a glimpse into his hedge fu...

Explore the mechanics of decentralized finance (DeFi) with Professor Evgeny Lyandres, who breaks down how decentralized exchanges work and how VirtuSwap stands out in providing liquidity for small-cap crypto assets. With insights into the challenges and future of tokenization, this episode offers a clear view of where DeFi may be heading. Evgeny is Professor of Finance and Head of the Blockchain R...

Economist and returning guest Darren Brady Nelson shares insights from his time as the top door-knocker for the Trump campaign in the battleground state of Wisconsin. He explains why Trump’s messages on inflation, immigration, and cultural issues resonated with voters. He breaks down Trump’s economic vision for the second term, including plans for Elon Musk to lead a government reorganisation. Sho...

Wharton Professor Michael Useem joins host Gene Tunny to discuss his new book, Resolute Japan, which unveils Japan’s emerging shift in management practices fueling a corporate revival. Japanese companies are adopting ambidextrous management, empowering frontline employees, and embracing Western practices while retaining stakeholder-first traditions. He emphasizes the importance of top management i...

Ken Wilcox, former CEO of Silicon Valley Bank, discusses his book "The China Business Conundrum" and the challenges of doing business in China. He explains the concept of "one bed, two dreams," highlighting the disparity in goals between western and Chinese joint venture partners. Wilcox details his bank's entry into China, emphasizing the strategic invitations and control exerted by the Chinese C...

Marian Tupy, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, discusses his book "Super Abundance" with Gene Tunny. Tupy argues that resources are becoming more abundant relative to global population, a concept he calls "super abundance." He explains that human ingenuity has led to cheaper commodities over time. Tupy refutes Malthusian predictions of resource scarcity, citing examples like the Haber-Bosch p...

In this episode, Gene Tunny dives into a recent Universal Basic Income (UBI) experiment funded by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Gene explores the key findings of the randomised controlled trial and discusses whether the positive outcomes are enough to convince sceptics. Are UBI recipients more financially secure, or are there deeper concerns about its impact on labour force participation and long-ter...

Qin En Looi, a partner at Saison Capital, discusses the venture capital landscape, particularly in emerging markets like Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America. Saison Capital, backed by Credit Saison, focuses on early-stage investments and has $150 million in assets under management. The firm has seen three exits and emphasizes the potential of Web3 and decentralized finance (DeFi). Looi highli...

Chris Ball, CEO of Hoxton Wealth, discusses the company's focus on wealth management for internationally mobile individuals, particularly in Dubai. Hoxton Wealth, with offices globally, offers fee-based services to high net worth and mass affluent clients, emphasizing comprehensive financial planning. Ball highlights the use of AI for administrative tasks and the challenges of property investing i...

Show host Gene Tunny responds to listener feedback about the private versus public sector's role in wealth creation, particularly addressing externalities like environmental harm and whether governments should fund facilities like Men’s Sheds. He also explores the efficiency of the private sector compared to government spending. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for Gene, please...

Show host Gene Tunny talks with Emmanuel Daniel, founder of The Asian Banker, about China's evolving economic policies under Xi Jinping. They explore China’s state intervention, the country's property sector, and the global implications of Xi's economic vision. Emmanuel also shares insights into Southeast Asia's rise, focusing on Indonesia's growth prospects. The conversation concludes with a disc...

Show host Gene Tunny interviews Russell Harrison, CEO of Spartans Boxing Club. They discuss the rise of boutique boxing gyms, the benefits of boxing for fitness and mental health, and the challenges of expanding a fitness franchise globally. Russell describes how Spartans uses technology to enhance the member experience and how boxing training can benefit corporate executives and employees. Hear f...

This episode delves into the work of Good Business Lab (GBL), co-founded by Professor Achyuta Adhvaryu. GBL focuses on innovative workplace interventions to improve worker well-being and firm productivity, and it typically evaluates these interventions using Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). Show host Gene Tunny and Ach discuss the effectiveness of soft skills training programs and the importan...

Show host Gene Tunny and Morgans Chief Economist Michael Knox explore the recent insights Reserve Bank of Australia Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser shared on monetary policy at the 2024 Economic Society of Australia (QLD) business lunch. They examine the RBA's data-driven approach to interest rates,  the equilibrium real interest rate concept, and the impacts of Quantitative Tightening (QT). Michael...

Ben Simpson, founder of Collective Shift, a crypto education and research company, shares valuable insights into the volatile world of cryptocurrency. Because the crypto field is filled with misinformation and scams, Ben emphasises the need for comprehensive education and reliable research before making investment decisions. He emphasises the importance of understanding the risks and potential of...

Gene Tunny welcomes Dr Nicholas Gruen from Lateral Economics to explore the decline of Australia's policy exceptionalism. They delve into the era of microeconomic reforms, the role of neoliberalism, and the challenges current policymakers face. Nicholas provides a historical perspective and discusses potential ways forward. He shares insights from his time advising the Hawke and Keating government...

In this episode, Gene Tunny explores the relationship between government spending and wealth creation. He talks about President Obama’s memorable expression, “You didn’t build that”, and how economists think about the role of government and wealth creation. Gene discusses the roles of both the government and private sector in generating wealth and their impact on productivity, GDP and living stand...

This episode features a conversation between Gene Tunny and Stephen Kirchner about the US dollar's dominance in global finance. They examine the reasons behind the dollar's strong position, the effects of US fiscal policy and public debt, and the debate over its future role. Kirchner explains how the US's status as a net oil exporter influences currency dynamics and global trade. If you have any q...

In this episode, show host Gene Tunny explores the influential theories of economists Alvin Hansen, the “American Keynes", and Evsey Domar. The episode was inspired by a first edition copy of Hansen and Perloff’s 1944 book “State and Local Finance in the National Economy” that Gene was gifted. It includes a handwritten inscription from Hansen to Domar, his student at Harvard. Key topics include th...