Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at the resurgence of Ireland's economy, driven by tax cuts rather than tax rises. He discusses the documentary Ex Nihilo: The Truth About Money (https://tinyurl.com/2sntvvxd), explaining how many of the West's problems are due to excess money, interest rates and debt and the resulting distortions and bubbles. Too much in the film, he says, isn't understood properly by politicians or even many economists. And he concludes by looking at some of the sinister overtones behind the campaign against cash.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
With NHS waiting lists reaching a record high of 7.6m, political commentator Mike Indian looks at the PM's pledges on that and on inflation, still stubbornly high. He discusses the migrant issue as the first asylum seekers arrive on the Bibby Stockholm, wondering why asylum seekers couldn't be put to work in the interim and wishing that on this, and many other issues, we could have some bigger thinking. He also looks at Net Zero and why it has become the political football of the summer.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
With both probable Presidential candidates facing legal challenges, Professor Tim Evans says that America is at its most divided since the Civil War, a terrifying prospect for those who believe in democracy and the rule of law. He wonders if we might be at an inflexion point where the old order is falling apart. Tony Blair claimed that a future generation will take the UK back into the EU but is the EU what it was and will it continue to be appealing to those who opposed Brexit? And he looks at Japan's falling birth rate and ageing population and points out how similar problems are facing many other countries, with massive implications for the sustainability of the welfare state.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the ramifications of Dame Alison Rose resigning as head of Natwest. Did she have to go and should the government have intervened? What are the ramifications of banks debanking customers whose views they don't like? Mike looks at the three by-election results, which show rather more than simply an all-score draw for the three main parties. He also reflects on Labour dropping its pledge on trans self-ID and considers briefly the effect that social media is having on effective politics.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University thinks the PM and other politicians should avoid playing the central planner and let the increasingly dynamic education market decide which degrees are worthwhile. He feels it obvious that Britain must adopt Small Modular Reactors but wonders if politicians have the guts in the face of vocal opposition. And he is gravely concerned about the threat to free speech if banks are allowed to cancel the accounts of those whose views they disagree with.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
With junior doctors going on strike, political commentator Mike Indian ponders the answer to the UK's failing public services. After the rebuff of the Illegal Migration Bill in the House of Lords, he points out that the bill does not address the fundamental problems of migration. And he takes some positives from Joe Biden's visit to the UK and the NATO summit.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
On 5th July the Treasury Select Committee held an evidence session on the hot topic of inflation. Their witnesses included: Professor Sir Charles Bean, Professor of Economics, London School of Economics (LSE), Former member, Monetary Policy Committee, Former member, OBR Budget Responsibility Committee; Nina Skero, Chief Executive, Centre for Economics and Business Research; Stephen King, Senior Economic Adviser, HSBC; Dr Sushil Wadhwani CBE, Chief Investment Officer, PGIM Wadhwani, Former member, Monetary Policy Committee. This episode covers the first 50 minutes of the hearing and its conclusion with year-end predictions for interest rates — the full podcast is two hours long and can be accessed via https://www.shareradio.co.uk/podcasts/treasury-select-committee-evidence-session-on-inflation-full-length-07-jul-23/PodcastPlayer
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University suggests that, with the trend in Europe towards nationalist populism and harsher immigration policies, opinions in the UK towards the EU from each political wing may switch, as they have done before. With Thames Water in dire staits, why are natural monopolies failures whether run by the state or privately and what can be done? And with the problems of the NHS deepening, is it about to hit the point of no return?
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Gavin Oldham, director of The Share Alliance (as well as founder of Share Radio, The Share Centre and The Share Foundation) talks to Simon Rose about the need for long-term governance which, at present, is not supplied by our democratic system which produces so many career politicians. There are many issues which can only be addressed if there is more attention to a long-term focus, including inter-generational rebalancing and a more egalitarian form of capitalism. He explains why the Welsh government is leading the way in this, why Inheritance Tax needs repurposing and why AI is a great opportunity for wealth distribution.
Guests: Gavin Oldham
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans is fascinated by new figures showing how, in many sectors, non-EU immigrants are now outnumbering workers from the EU. He laments the way in which the inefficiencies of the UK state are piling up disastrous problems ahead that no UK politicians appear prepared to discuss, let alone tackle. And he looks at the EU, which is trying to battle inflation while it is deflation and a chilling recession that lie ahead instead.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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