The Public Sphere: Journal of Public Policy

In today's globalised world, the effects of international trade are felt in everyday life, from the price of goods on supermarket shelves to the headlines about tariffs, new trade deals, and the occasional breakdown of negotiations. Existing trade frameworks face growing scrutiny, and the rules that once seemed settled are increasingly being contested. In this episode, we explore the realities of...

In the UK, local government touches almost every aspect of daily life. From housing and transport to social care and planning, yet local elections rarely command the attention they deserve. With the May 7th local elections on the horizon, questions about the health of local democracy, the political shifts underway across the country, and what it actually means to represent a community have never f...

In November 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered Labour's second major budget promising growth and stability. Yet, Britons witness councils going bankrupt, taxes stealthily rising, and public services collapsing under the weight of impossible trade-offs. What is really happening with Britain's public finances?  In this episode, Professor Tony Travers CBE, Director of LSE London and one...

Why did countries with pandemic preparedness plans struggle during COVID-19 while others succeeded? Why do billions in development aid fail to improve lives? The answer sometimes isn't bad policy or insufficient funding. It's state capacity. In this episode, we explore why governments struggle to deliver on their promises with Dr. Joana Naritomi, economist and Deputy Dean at LSE's School of Public...

From OpenAI to SpaceX, private innovation is reshaping economies faster than regulators can respond. But what should states actually do? In this episode, Dr. Frank Muci Lander, LSE Policy Fellow, unpacks how governments can foster growth without stifling the technologies driving it. Drawing on his experience across the developed and developing markets, Frank explores the tension between fiscal pol...

How did €0.6 trillion shift from taxpayers to bondholders in the Eurozone? Can households benefit from Quantitative Easing the same way financial institutions do? Why is the line between monetary and fiscal policy blurred and what can be done about it? Luis Garicano, an LSE SPP Professor, former MEP, and author of the new book " Crisis Cycle: Challenges, Evolution, and Future of the Euro" joins Ac...

A provocative article by Barry Eichengreen questions whether the dollar can remain the "King of Currencies." But how fragile is the global medium of exchange system really, and could Trump's policies destabilize it? LSE Department of Economics Professor Ethan Ilzetzki joins Achilles Tsirgis to explore the historical rise of the dollar, what has sustained its dominance, and whether the Euro or Renm...

In our first episode for this season, Lead Editor Samir Janmohamed (for the year 2024/25) introduces the Public Sphere Journal Podcast — a platform from LSE’s student-led journal of international policy. Learn what to expect from the series as we bring LSE professors, fellows, and global professionals on air to discuss emerging issues shaping the UK and the world. Subscribe and join us as we explo...

How will US Tariffs affect monetary policy in the EU? Will Germany's ambitious fiscal reforms lead to a spillover in the architecture of the Stability and Growth Pact? LSE Professor Paul De Grauwe of the European Institute joins Achilles Tsirgis to decipher just what the recent evolutions might bring upon the EU.