Economist Radio

By The Economist

News & Politics

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The Economist was founded in 1843 "to throw white light on the subjects within its range". For more from The Economist visit http://shop.economist.com/collections/audio

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The Economist asks: Inside ...

09.20.2019

In his palatial headquarters, Ren Zhengfei, founder and CEO of the Chinese telecommunications giant, explains how the American boycott has hurt Huawei and how he will fight back. He outlines plans to sell Huawei’s 5G technology to Western companies, allowing ...

Economist Radio episodes:

09.20.2019 The Economist asks: Inside Huawei In his palatial headquarters, Ren Zhengfei, founder and CEO of the Chinese telecommunications giant, explains how the American boycott has hurt Huawei and how he will fight back. He outlines plans to sell Huawei’s 5G technology to Western companies, allowing ...
09.20.2019 To all, concern: a climate-change special As the Global Climate Strike gets under way, we look at all matters climatic. History shows that fervent debate—and self-interested misinformation—go back to the mid-20th century. Uncertainties in scientists’ climate models are swamped by uncertainties about what people will do. ...
09.19.2019 Editor’s picks: September 19th 2019 A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, climate change must be tackled urgently and clear-headedly. (12:50) Israel’s prime minister has lost his majority. (19:00) And, why Russia is ambivalent about ...
09.19.2019 I can do that, Dave: AI and warfare Artificial intelligence is making its way into every aspect of life, including military conflict. We look at the thorny legal and ethical issues that the newest arms race raises. Three executives from Fukushima’s melted-down nuclear-power plant were cleared of negligence ...
09.18.2019 Babbage: Climate. Change As global leaders prepare for the UN climate change summit next week, we debate what changes individuals can make today to help limit the effects of climate change. The Economist’s environment editor, Catherine Brahic, hosts a roundtable with Christiana Figueres, ...
09.18.2019 Ursa minor: Russia-China relations In the 20th century Russia was the more powerful partner. Take a look at the flows of money and influence today, though, and it’s clear the situation has reversed. Part-time work first took hold because it offered flexibility to women ...
09.17.2019 Money talks: Purpose vs profit What are companies for? The orthodoxy was that they exist primarily to pursue profit. But a new faith in higher corporate purpose as a means to address social injustice, climate change and inequality is sweeping the Western business world. How ...
09.17.2019 Always be my Bibi? Israel back at the polls The country has never had two elections in a year, and the second looks to be as close-run as the first. Could that at last spell the end of the Binyamin Netanyahu era? A mysterious illness linked to e-cigarettes has ...
09.16.2019 Pipe down: attacks on Saudi oil Strikes on the world’s largest refinery are bad news for the state oil firm ahead of a record-breaking stock listing—and worse news for the proxy war between Iran and America. Another coming listing is that of WeWork; we consider whether ...
09.13.2019 Editor’s picks: September 13th 2019 A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, the “internet of things” revolution is about to go into overdrive. Europe’s best hope of economic revival lies in its neglected single market ...
09.13.2019 To Viktor, more spoils: Hungary’s autocracy He was once a liberal reformer, but now no institution is safe from Viktor Orban’s iron grip. His transformation into an autocrat is a troubling lesson about the decline of liberal democracies. Afghanistan’s drug trade has for decades mostly meant ...
09.12.2019 The Economist asks: Margaret Atwood The author of “The Testaments” and “The Handmaid’s tale” debates whether her novels are speculative fiction and how women's rights have evolved since she began writing in the early 1960s. Anne McElvoy asks Margaret Atwood whether she benefitted from a ...
09.12.2019 Trust issues: Huawei’s radical plan The tech giant finds itself enmeshed in a broad battle between China and America. But Huawei’s boss has an idea that might extricate it: selling off its 5G crown jewels. The battle isn’t only in technology; the documentary “American Factory” ...
09.11.2019 Babbage: Taxis for take-off Flying taxis could soon become commonplace in cities if operators can overcome strict regulations on their use. Journalist Rebecca Fannin explores the future of technology giants in China. And, how can the sound of sand reveal its source? Kenn Cukier ...
09.11.2019 Scapegoating: xenophobia in South Africa Migrants have become a convenient scapegoat for South Africans frustrated by a slumping economy and rampant unemployment—and for the politicians who might otherwise take the blame. We take a look at the ever-sharper divisions in America’s abortion debate. And, why ...
09.10.2019 Money talks: Fannie and Freddie move house The US Treasury plans to privatise Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which prop up most of the country’s mortgage finance. How will this affect the US mortgage market? Also, despite legislation aimed at blocking a no-deal Brexit, Britain could still ...
09.10.2019 Things fall apart: Britain’s fading centre-right Parliament is suspended for weeks. The Conservative party has been hollowed out. The prime minister’s hopes for an election have been dashed, twice. What does all this portend for the Tory party? And a special election in a solidly Republican ...
09.09.2019 Tali-banned: Trump calls off Afghan peace talks President Trump has abruptly cancelled talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, raising fears of renewed internal strife. Wales dabbles in nationalism, and it could follow the Scottish push for separatism. Finally, could a deal finally be on the horizon in ...
09.06.2019 The Economist asks: Malcolm Gladwell The prolific author and podcaster explains why people so often misunderstand strangers and the consequences when they do, from police injustice to Ponzi schemes. Anne McElvoy asks Malcolm Gladwell why humans are so bad at distinguishing lies from the truth, ...
09.06.2019 Disunited Russia party? Moscow’s elections This weekend’s vote will fill some fairly inconsequential city positions. But how it plays out will indicate the strength of a rapidly broadening, national movement against the ruling United Russia party. China has long been repressing the Muslim-minority Uighurs; worryingly, ...
09.05.2019 Editor’s picks: September 5th 2019 A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, President Assad clings to power in Syria. (10:40) The Conservatives tightening embrace of populism has set up Britain for a dangerously polarised election. ...
09.05.2019 Age-old problem: reforming France President Emmanuel Macron embarks on a serious policy challenge today over pensions. Will his efforts at reform re-ignite the protests that have dogged his presidency? And, a look at the legacies of two opposing figures of environmentalism: David Koch, a ...
09.04.2019 Babbage: Innovation around innovation Innovation: it’s more than just a buzzword that companies use when trying to sound dynamic. But what does it actually mean? Some entrepreneurs and economists like Patrick Collison and Tyler Cowen think that it needs to be studied as a ...
09.04.2019 This is revolting: Britain’s parliament rebels Boris Johnson has lost his parliamentary majority. Conservative party rebels will now help push for a bill precluding a no-deal Brexit, making an early election look even more likely. Violence in Afghanistan continues, even as America’s negotiations with the Taliban ...
09.04.2019 The Secret History of the Future: New Media, Old Story Radio was originally a social medium, as early radio sets (each of which could transmit as well as receive) turned cities into giant chatrooms, populated by Morse Code-tapping enthusiasts. But the excitement of this democratic, digital platform did not last, ...
09.03.2019 Money talks: Hell to peso Argentina’s President has imposed currency controls in an attempt to stabilise the markets, as the country faces escalating financial troubles. How did things go so wrong so quickly? And what next? The Economist’s Soumaya Keynes asks Binyamin Appelbaum, author of ...
09.03.2019 No safety in numbers: America’s immigration raids Workplace raids catch many undocumented migrants in one place. But they do nothing to tackle the criminal element that the Trump administration has so vilified. Many of the 2,000 Turkish citizens that fought alongside jihadists in Syria now want to ...
09.02.2019 Until blue in the face: Hong Kong’s protests The territory’s authorities have used live rounds, pepper spray and water cannon with blue dye to mark participants in ever-growing protests. What else might they resort to? The Baltic states, worried about Russian expansionism, are countering the old-school spycraft of ...
08.30.2019 The Economist asks: Should billionaires call the shots on solving global problems? At glitzy gatherings across the world, former heads of state, corporate bosses and celebrities champion the power of philanthropy to change the world. Anand Giridharadas, author of “Winners take all”, argues this is a charade and the 1% have little ...
08.30.2019 Out to launch: American nuclear policy There is a push in America to subscribe to a “no first use” policy on nukes, in a bid to reduce risks and anxiety. But could that actually make things less stable? We tour through South Asia, where the annual ...
08.29.2019 Editor’s picks: August 29th 2019 A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, after Boris Johnson announced he will temporarily suspend Parliament, how can MPs stop a no-deal Brexit? The conflict between Israel and Iran is ...
08.29.2019 Suspend, disbelief: Parliament and Brexit Boris Johnson, Britain’s prime minister, sparked widespread outrage by suspending Parliament in the run-up to Brexit. What recourse do lawmakers still have? Taiwan’s deal to buy American fighter jets reveals wide political support for tooling up against Chinese aggression. And, ...
08.28.2019 Babbage: Oh, grow up Investors are ploughing hundreds of millions of dollars into vertical farming. Could towers of vegetables help feed the world’s growing population? Also, how studying gravitational waves could unlock the deepest mysteries of the universe and prove Einstein wrong. And, network ...
08.28.2019 Ex-Seoul-mate: Japan-South Korea spat escalates Century-old discord is never far from the surface for the two countries, but the latest flare-up risks disrupting stability in the region. We estimate how much the grounded Boeing 737 MAX plane is costing airlines, suppliers and the planemaker itself: ...
08.28.2019 The Secret History of the Future: A Brief History of Timekeeping The first mechanical clocks were made to summon monks to prayer. Ever since, timekeeping technology has often been about control and obligation. But underneath a mountain in Texas, a new kind of clock is being built that’s meant to alter ...
08.27.2019 Money talks: Big pharma in court The pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $572 million for its part in the opioid crisis in the state of Oklahoma. What precedent will this set? In Jackson Hole, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President ...
08.27.2019 Emmanuel transmission: outcomes of the G7 The weekend summit hosted by France’s President Emmanuel Macron resulted in few concrete actions; mostly the diplomatic dance was intended to keep President Donald Trump on side. Such meetings may not always go smoothly, but they’re still worth having. We ...
08.26.2019 The world ahead: Clash of the titans With tensions rising in the South China Sea, we consider how a potential clash between America and China might play out—and why the world should pay more attention to this region. And host Tom Standage takes a ride in a ...
08.26.2019 A friend of mines: Asia’s coal habit The region accounts for three-quarters of the world’s coal consumption—even as giants such as China and India consider its environmental effects and opportunities in renewables. For a while, international aid and attention were showered on Liberia; now they’re gone, things ...
08.23.2019 The Economist asks: What’s the recipe for the restaurant of the future? Over iced coffee and crullers at Union Square Cafe in New York, Anne McElvoy asks restaurateur Danny Meyer about his recipe for restaurant success—from Michelin-starred 11 Madison Park to the fast-food chain Shake Shack. They talk about how #MeToo has ...
08.23.2019 Fight or flight: Cathay Pacific China’s central government has made an example of the huge, Hong Kong-based carrier. Will the ploy work to quell protests in the territory, or just further rattle the nerves of its international firms? We examine the spectacular rise of Pentecostalism ...
08.22.2019 Editor’s picks: August 22nd 2019 A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, our cover story on what companies are for (12:20) Also, Matteo Salvini hopes elections will make him Italy’s prime minister. (18:40) And how ...
08.22.2019 Pull out all the backstops: Boris Johnson in Europe Britain’s prime minister is on the continent ahead of this weekend’s G7 meeting. We ask whether he’ll be able to ditch the Irish “backstop” that has become Brexit’s stickiest sticking point. We take a look at FedEx, its old-school disrupter ...
08.21.2019 Babbage: Gut Feeling How can understanding the link between gut bacteria and Autism Spectrum Disorder help scientists develop a treatment? Broken heart syndrome, or Takotsubo, is a serious condition that can be caused by the death of a loved one. Scientists have recently ...
08.21.2019 League of its own? Italian politics Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has pulled the rug from under the country’s government, betting that his charismatic right-wingery might win him more-complete rule. Will it work? We take a look at Latin America’s state energy giants—and find the shared ...
08.21.2019 The Secret History of the Future: Salvation in the Air At the dawn of the 20th century, chemists dreamed of extracting nitrogen from the air and turning it into a limitless supply of fertiliser. Sceptics thought they were crazy—it was possible in theory, but it was unclear if it could ...
08.20.2019 Money talks: From bad to wurst This week the Bundesbank warned that Germany’s economy will probably soon be in recession. Henry Curr, our economics editor, argues that the country needs more fiscal stimulus. Who will buy the world’s largest AI computer chip? And, Apple's entry into ...
08.20.2019 Power rationing: Sudan in transition After months of unceasing protests, military leaders have struck a deal to share power with civilians, while Omar al-Bashir, the country’s deposed dictator, is in court. But can Sudan break out of its cycle of violence? We examine the curious ...
08.19.2019 Scarcely surviving: Zimbabwe Electricity, food, water: everything is in short supply in the country, including faith in the government’s ability to recover from Robert Mugabe’s kleptocracy. China produced a record 8.3m university graduates this year; we take a look at the changing labour ...
08.16.2019 The Economist asks: Who will decide the fate of Hong Kong? Former Chief Secretary of the territory, Anson Chan, has called on leader Carrie Lam to withdraw a controversial law which sparked a wave of protests. Anne McElvoy asks her whether Hong Kong’s special status is under threat and, 30 years ...

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Economist Radio

What's Economist Radio about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Economist Radio episodes:

The Economist asks: Inside Huawei

To all, concern: a climate-change special

Editor’s picks: September 19th 2019

I can do that, Dave: AI and warfare

Babbage: Climate. Change

Ursa minor: Russia-China relations

Money talks: Purpose vs profit

Always be my Bibi? Israel back at the polls

Pipe down: attacks on Saudi oil

Editor’s picks: September 13th 2019

To Viktor, more spoils: Hungary’s autocracy

The Economist asks: Margaret Atwood

Trust issues: Huawei’s radical plan

Babbage: Taxis for take-off

Scapegoating: xenophobia in South Africa

Money talks: Fannie and Freddie move house

Things fall apart: Britain’s fading centre-right

Tali-banned: Trump calls off Afghan peace talks

The Economist asks: Malcolm Gladwell

Disunited Russia party? Moscow’s elections

Editor’s picks: September 5th 2019

Age-old problem: reforming France

Babbage: Innovation around innovation

This is revolting: Britain’s parliament rebels

The Secret History of the Future: New Media, Old Story

Money talks: Hell to peso

No safety in numbers: America’s immigration raids

Until blue in the face: Hong Kong’s protests

The Economist asks: Should billionaires call the shots on solving global problems?

Out to launch: American nuclear policy

Editor’s picks: August 29th 2019

Suspend, disbelief: Parliament and Brexit

Babbage: Oh, grow up

Ex-Seoul-mate: Japan-South Korea spat escalates

The Secret History of the Future: A Brief History of Timekeeping

Money talks: Big pharma in court

Emmanuel transmission: outcomes of the G7

The world ahead: Clash of the titans

A friend of mines: Asia’s coal habit

The Economist asks: What’s the recipe for the restaurant of the future?

Fight or flight: Cathay Pacific

Editor’s picks: August 22nd 2019

Pull out all the backstops: Boris Johnson in Europe

Babbage: Gut Feeling

League of its own? Italian politics

The Secret History of the Future: Salvation in the Air

Money talks: From bad to wurst

Power rationing: Sudan in transition

Scarcely surviving: Zimbabwe

The Economist asks: Who will decide the fate of Hong Kong?

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