It’s not that simple

«There is nothing more permanent than a temporary migrant. Don't create any illusions that a fair share of migrants in not going to stay», says sociologist Hein de Haas, in this episode of «It's Not That Simples», a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.

One of the most enlightened but also thought provocative voices of migrations, Hein de Haas explains that this hot topic of today is neither a phenomenon nor a novelty. 
«Migration is part and parcel of who we are as human beings, as a society», he explains, emphasizing that migratory movements have been taking place «for as long as humanity has existed».

The difference lies in Europe's position in this chessboard, having shifted from being a point of departure (in colonialism or world wars) to being a continent where citizens from all over the world arrive. 

Highlighting that it is impossible to stop this movement, the sociologist warns against the hypocrisy of policies that punish migrants instead of those who accept them illegally. «In the United States, the number of employers who are prosecuted each year for employing undocumented migrants is between 10 and 15 a year, with no zeros», he claims.

«If you would really be serious as a politician when you say 'I want to combat smuggling, I want to combat illegal migration'... If you really want to do that, you better punish employers», Hein de Haas explains, adding that the lack of consequences for those who employ them fuels exploitation and abuse.

Breaking down the false narratives on this issue - from the left, which sees immigrants as «victims and refugees», and from the right, which speaks of the threat of those who «arrive to steal jobs» - the expert believes that these discourses hide the real problem: the fact that «in Western Europe and the US, there is the biggest labor shortage ever, especially of low-skilled migrants».

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Two dollars (about 1.85 euros) per day to cover all needs. This is the benchmark set by the World Bank to define extreme poverty, already accounting for differences in purchasing power among different countries around the globe. 

Esther Duflo, awarded with the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2019 for her work on alleviating extreme poverty, provides insights on how to address inequalities. The author advocates for «practical solutions», arguing that "it is much easier to think about the effect of something than its cause" and reveals how small measures can have a significant impact.

 The economist advocates a methodology based on a "plumber mentality." With this strategy, she demonstrates how important it is to experiment various solutions until arriving at one that solves the problem.

In this interview, the Nobel laureate in Economics explains how small changes in access to healthcare and education have long-term implications for the lives of the poorest. Using the example of deworming children in Kenya, she demonstrates how this measure has led to health improvements but also contributed to a reduction in school absenteeism, providing students with better learning outcomes. 

Throughout the conversation, Esther Duflo also emphasizes the contribution of immigration to the economies of countries, explaining that the workforce and youth of immigrants contribute to the development of nations rather than impoverishing them.

In the fight against poverty, climate change is fueling new inequalities: the wealthiest countries are the major polluters, but it is the poorest who are suffering the most intense consequences of the climate crisis. Duflo thus calls for a global approach to this problem.

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What’s it like to be a teenager these nowadays? What challenges do they face? How can adults contribute to their well-being? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Lisa Damour in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.

A clinical psychologist, Damour is the author of three New York Times best sellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Damour is also a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News. She serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University and has written numerous academic papers, chapters, and books related to education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being. Damour graduated with honors from Yale University and worked for the Yale Child Study Center before earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan. She has been a fellow at Yale’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy and the University of Michigan’s Power Foundation. She and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters. 

In this episode, Damour explains why it is harder to be a teenager now than it was decades ago. She also explores how social media and the digital world affect teenagers and their well-being, while considering the differences between boys and girls in the way they engage with the digital environment. Damour then advises parents to “go slow” on giving their kids access to digital technology and social media. Furthermore, she discusses the role and impact of “caring adults” on a teenager’s mental health. Finally, she warns parents about what kinds of behavior should make them worry about their teenage kids, in a conversation well worth listening to.

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How important is the European Union? What is its role in today’s world? Is it still too distant from European citizens? How can it better reach out to young people? To answer these questions, José Maria Pimentel interviews the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.

As President of the European Parliament (EP), Roberta Metsola is also the Head of the Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) Delegation, one of the political forces within the European People’s Party Group in the European Parliament. 

A lawyer by profession, specializing in European law and politics, Roberta graduated in 2003, the same year that her country Malta, decided to join the European Union. She was first elected as an MEP for Malta and Gozo in 2013, being re-elected in 2014 and 2019 and becoming in this way, one of the first Maltese women elected to the EP.

In 2020, Metsola was elected as the First Vice-President of the European Parliament, during this time, she was responsible for the EP's relations with national parliaments and for the Parliament's participation in the interreligious and non-confessional dialogue. On 18th January 2022 Roberta Metsola was elected President of the European Parliament, becoming the youngest ever person to occupy this role.

In this episode, Metsola discusses her efforts to talk with young people in every country she visits, to persuade them to engage with politics and the European Union (EU). She addresses the perception that “Brussels is too far away” and what can be done to change that. Metsola also explains how much Malta becoming a member of the EU changed her country for the better. She then talks about her term as President of the EP and the many crises the EU has had to face during that time. Finally, Metsola considers the specific role of the EP within the EU’s institutional framework, and its impact on people’s lives, in a conversation well worth listening to. 
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What does the world look like today? What can explain the many wars currently taking place around the globe? Will conflicts like the one in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians ever end? How dangerous is the Russian war against Ukraine? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Simon Sebag Montefiore in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation. 

In this episode, Montefiore discusses his latest book The World: A Family History of Humanity, a world history written with the grit of a biography, which uses family, the one thing all humans have in common, to tell the story of humanity, and examines how the current “world disorder” is just the end of “what we thought was the way the world normally worked”, describing this “new disorder” as a “multiplayer computer game” in which an array of continental powers and aspiring superpowers are challenging the United States.   

Montefiore also addresses Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7th and the war in Gaza, stating that the only way out is a "two-state solution", each with new leaderships. 

The bestselling author of history and novels, awarded several prizes for his previous books, including Jerusalem: The Biography, Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar and The Romanovs, then expresses his concerns about the danger of nuclear proliferation, before considering the Russian invasion Ukraine and why the West must help the latter in fighting of the former. Finally, Montefiore delves into what might happen if Donald Trump is once again elected President of the United States in the 2024 election, in a conversation well worth listening to.  

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What are “Blue Zones”? Where in the world do people live better and healthier lives? What makes them live longer and healthier? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Dan Buettner in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.

The author of five books on longevity and happiness, Buettner discovered the five places in the world—dubbed Blue Zones—where people lived the longest, healthiest lives and shared this information with the world. His books were all national bestsellers. Together with his writing, Buettner works in partnership with municipal governments, large employers, and health insurance companies to implement Blue Zones Projects in communities, workplaces, and universities. He is also a three-time Guinness World Record distance cycling holder.

In this episode, Buettner explains what he means by “Blue Zones”: the five areas of the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives. He considers how our environment (the food we eat, our social habits, our incentives) affects our quality of life. Buettner then explores how factors like family or a sense of purpose can contribute to a longer life expectancy, and highlights how a “peasant diet” is an essential element of the “Blue Zone” life. Buettner also discusses what people in countries like the United States are doing wrong that makes them live shorter and less healthy lives than people in the “Blue Zones”. He also talks about his work with city governments in the United States to develop and implement policies to nudge people to adopt better habits and improve their well-being. Finally, he addresses the potential negative consequences of a longer life, in a conversation well worth listening to.
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What is scientific knowledge? How can it be relayed to the general public in our era of social media and fake information? What is the role of science in our society? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Brian Cox in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.

A renowned experimental physicist, Brian Cox is the Professor of Particle Physics at Manchester University, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science, and a key part of the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider.  He is also the presenter of the blockbuster TV shows Wonders of the Universe, The Planets, Wonders of Life, and Forces of Nature, each looking at the fundamental science behind everything from stars and planets to atoms and microbiology. Cox has also presented Stargazing, Space Hoppers, The Big Bang, and numerous editions of Horizon. His books accompanying the Wonders of... series have become huge bestsellers, as did his co-authored titles Why Does E=mc2? and The Quantum Universe. Cox also co-hosts Radio 4's comedy and science show Infinite Monkey Cage, and tours with a solo lecture show, Universal: Adventures in Space and Time.

In this episode, Cox explores the difference between reliable knowledge and opinion, as well as the challenges social media and its “noise” pose to scientists in communicating their findings to the general public. He discusses the issue of climate change and how astronomy shows us how both insignificant and special we are as a species. Cox also addresses the possibility of colonizing a “Planet B”, before explaining how remote the possibility of an Artificial Intelligence becoming sentient is. On the other, he warns of the very serious risks associated with letting AI making decisions for us. Cox also explains what black holes are and why he’s so fascinated by them. Finally, he considers the likelihood of extraterrestrial life, in a conversation well worth listening to.

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• Why Does E=mc²? (And Why Should We Care?), Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, 2009

• Wonders of the Solar System, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2010

• Wonders of the Universe, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2011

• The Quantum Universe (And Why Anything That Can Happen, Does), Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw 2011

• Wonders of Life: Exploring the Most Extraordinary Phenomenon in the Universe, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2013

• Human Universe, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2014

• Forces of Nature, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2016

• Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos, Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, 2016

• Black Holes: The Key to Understanding the Universe, Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, 2022

• A conversation with Brian Cox

• Brian Cox on how Physics can explain Life

• Brian Cox On The Multiverse And Life On Other Planets

• Brian Cox on “Our Place in the Universe”

• Brian Cox on “The Wonders of the Solar System”

•Brian Cox on Artificial Intelligence

• Podcast It’s Not That Simple “Cosmos”, with Vitor Cardoso

• A conversation about the Cosmos between Vítor Cardoso and fellow astrophysicists Michio Kaku and Carlo Rovelli

• Vítor Cardoso on black holes

• Vítor Cardoso on “black holes as engines of discovery”

What do we mean by “innovation”? Why do we need it? How can companies and societies encourage it? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Niron Hashai in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.

An expert on innovation and entrepreneurship, Hashai is a Full Professor at the Arison School of Business, The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel. He currently serves as the school's Dean. Hashai obtained his BSc in Computer Science from the Technion and his MBA and PhD from Tel Aviv University. His research was published in top strategy, management, international business, and innovation journals, including Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, Research Policy, Strategic Management Journal and Strategy Science, and he on the boards of the Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, and the Global Strategy Journal, among others. Before joining the Interdisciplinary Center, Hashai was a tenured faculty member at the School of Business Administration of the Hebrew University, where he also served as Vice Dean, Head of the Asper Center for Entrepreneurship, Head of the Strategy and Entrepreneurship area, the Academic Director of the EMBA program and held the Albertson-Waltuch Chair in Business Administration. Hashai is also a visiting Professor at the University of Manchester and an associate member at the John H. Dunning Research Centre, University of Reading. He has also held visiting positions at the Stern School of Business, New York University, the Blavatnik School of Government, the University of Oxford and Leeds University Business School. Hashai is co-founder and advisory board member of the Israel Strategy Conference (ISC).

In this episode, Hashai explains how innovation is born of an openness to “disobey your superiors”, while also being able to collaborate with your coworkers. He stresses the importance of risk-taking and of one’s willingness to fail to innovate, while “not failing too much”. Hashai also describes what a “culture of innovation” looks like: he gives some examples of companies that innovated and thereby improved their businesses, before examining the kind of corporate structure that can foster that kind of innovation. Later in this episode, he also discusses the dangers of “innovation for innovation’s sake” Finally, he considers the potential benefits and dangers of Artificial Intelligence, in a conversation well worth listening to.

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What do we mean by “human capital”? What is the relationship between democracy, human rights and economic prosperity? Are poor people doomed to remain poor? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews James Heckman in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.

A Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences laureate in 2000, Heckman is the Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago. His research has focused on such subjects as inequality, social mobility and economic opportunity; labor economics; lifecycle dynamics of skill formation; microeconometrics; and causal models rooted in economic theory. He is also the Director of the Center for the Economics of Human Development and the Co-Director of the Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Global Working Group. In 1983, he won the John Bates Clark Medal. Heckman has also been a fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation since 1978, a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of The Econometric Society (since 1980), and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

In this episode, Heckman explains the “set of capacities” that make up human capital and “allow us to function well in the world”. He examines how the promotion of human and civil rights in the United States in 1964 had a positive impact on the country’s economy. Heckman also examines how China’s economic success is a result not so much of its political authoritarianism, but of a much greater access of women to education and their subsequent wider and more qualified participation in the workforce. He then contrasts China with India, which might be hindering its development by putting some minorities in disadvantage. Later in the episode, Heckman addresses the impact of inequality in skill acquisition, and how poor people are often trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty. On the other hand, he disputes the idea that inequality is on the rise in the United States. Finally, Heckman discusses the unintended negative outcomes of well-meaning policies like the minimum wage or rent controls, in a conversation well worth listening to.
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What is Blockchain? What is it for? How does it work? What kind of impact can it have on our societies? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Don Tapscott in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.

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