The Beverage Report Podcast

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview Professor Keyu Jin, Associate Professor of Economics at the LSE Department of Economics & author of the new book 'The New China Playbook: Beyond Socialism and Capitalism'.

What are the West's biggest misconceptions about China? How has the one-child policy impacted policy regulations and aggregate household savings? What insights can we glean from the collapse of SVB?

Professor Jin explores these topics and more, sharing her insights and work on some of the most important and impactful current areas of research: the Chinese economy, international trade & finance.

Tune into this episode to learn more about Professor Jin's research and her personal journey as an economist!

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview Baroness Dambisa Moyo, a member of the House of Lords serving on a number of corporate boards, with a PhD in Economics from the University of Oxford, and a Master's degree from Harvard University!

How might geopolitical instability mould the landscape of investment opportunities? In what ways might AI impact growth and human development? Which sectors are the most vulnerable to the need to refinance maturing corporate debt as interest rates remain high?

Lady Moyo shares her insights and outlook on some of the most important current trends globally, including inflation, interest rates, geopolitics, climate change, AI and more. With an illustrious and expansive career, Lady Moyo also discusses key lessons she has gained from her experiences, and imparts wisdom for those interested in a career in economics and politics.

Tune into this special episode to learn more about Baroness Dambisa Moyo's academic and professional journey.

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, Raza Rasool interviews Professor Matthias Doepke, our very own Professor of Economics at the LSE Department of Economics! Professor Doepke shares his insights on various topics within the field of family economics.

Do parenting decisions influence inequality? What is Scandinavian-style parenting? How is fertility related to income?

Professor Doepke also discusses his best-selling book‘Love, Money, and Parenting: How Economics Explains the Way We Raise Our Kids’, as well as some other publications, and shares how his research on family economics have influenced his own views of parenting.

Tune into this episode to learn more about Professor Doepke's research and his personal journey as an economist.

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, Raza Rasool interviews Professor Imran Rasul, a professor of economics at University College London and co-director of the Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Professor Rasul shares his insights on various topics in labour, development and public economics, such as inequality, vocational training, social mobility and policy evaluation. He also gives some advice for students who are interested in pursuing a career in economics or related fields. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Professor Rasul's research and his personal journey as an economist.

In this episode of the Beverage Report podcast, we resume our conversation with Asli Demirguc-Kunt, a Turkish economist and a non-resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development. Asli is a former chief economist of the Europe and Central Asia Region of The World Bank, where she also served as the Director of Research, Director of Development Policy, and the Chief Economist of the Finance and Private Sector Development Network. She has authored more than 100 research papers and books, and is widely cited and recognized as one of the top women in economics.

We talk to Asli about her research on the determinants and consequences of banking crises, which she has studied extensively using cross-country empirical methods. We discuss how bank concentration, regulation, supervision, and institutional quality affect the likelihood and severity of systemic banking distress. We also discuss her role as the chief economist of the Europe and Central Asia region at the World Bank, where she oversaw the production of analytical reports and policy advice on various topics related to the economic development and integration of the region. We explore the main challenges and opportunities facing the region in terms of growth, trade, innovation, governance, and human capital. Finally, we talk to Asli about her experience as a woman in economics, and her advice for young women who want to pursue a career in this field.

In this episode of the Beverage Report podcast, we are honored to have a conversation with Asli Demirguc-Kunt, a Turkish economist and a non-resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development. Asli is a former chief economist of the Europe and Central Asia Region of The World Bank, where she also served as the Director of Research, Director of Development Policy, and the Chief Economist of the Finance and Private Sector Development Network. She has authored more than 100 research papers and books, and is widely cited and recognized as one of the top women in economics.

We talk to Asli about her role in creating and leading the Global Findex Database, the world’s most comprehensive database on financial inclusion. The Global Findex Database provides almost 300 indicators on topics such as account ownership, payments, saving, credit, and financial resilience for 123 economies. The database is used to track progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to inform policy makers, researchers, and practitioners on how to expand access to financial services for individuals and businesses.

We also discuss her research on the impact of financial inclusion on economic development, poverty reduction, and gender equality. We explore how digital financial services, powered by fintech, can lower costs, increase speed, security, and transparency of transactions, and allow for more tailored financial services that serve the poor. We also examine the challenges and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access finance and grow their businesses in developing countries.

This is part one of a two-part interview with Asli Demirguc-Kunt. Stay tuned for part two, where we will delve into some of her other research topics.

In this episode of the LSE Beverage Report podcast, we continue our conversation with Sir Oliver Hart, a British-born American economist and Nobel laureate. Sir Oliver is the Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor at Harvard University, and one of the leading experts on contract theory. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2016, together with Bengt Holmström, for his contributions to the theory of incomplete contracts.

We talk to Sir Oliver about some of his more recent research topics, such as corporate social responsibility, shareholder rights, and behavioral contracts. We discuss how corporations should balance their profit objectives with their social and environmental impacts, and whether shareholders should have a say in these matters. Sir Oliver shares with us his views on the opportunities for young economists, and his advice for students who want to pursue a career in economics.

This is part two of a two-part interview with Sir Oliver Hart. If you missed part one, where we discussed his life and career, his groundbreaking work on the roles that ownership structure and contractual arrangements play in the governance and boundaries of corporations, and his influential work on the hold-up problem.

In this episode of the LSE Beverage Report podcast, we are delighted to have a conversation with Sir Oliver Hart, a British-born American economist and Nobel laureate. Sir Oliver is the Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor at Harvard University, and one of the leading experts on contract theory. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2016, together with Bengt Holmström, for his contributions to the theory of incomplete contracts.

We talk to Sir Oliver about his life and career, from his early days as a student, to his groundbreaking research on the roles that ownership structure and contractual arrangements play in the governance and boundaries of corporations. We also discuss his influential work on the hold-up problem, the property rights approach to the theory of the firm, and the implications of incomplete contracts for public policy and institutional design. Sir Oliver shares with us his insights on how he came up with his seminal ideas and what challenges he faced along the way.

This is part one of a two-part interview with Sir Oliver Hart. Stay tuned for part two, where we will explore some of his more recent research topics, such as corporate social responsibility, reference points, and behavioral contracts.

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we're joined by Professor Leah Boustan, an economic historian at Princeton University. Professor Boustan is the author of two books, Competition in the Promised Land and Streets of Gold: America's Untold Story of Immigrant Success. In our conversation, we discuss the Great Migration, white flight, and the impact of immigration on the American economy. We also talk about how machine learning is being used to track immigrants and their descendants, and how the concept of the American Dream has evolved over time. Professor Boustan is a leading expert on immigration and the economics of race. Her research has important implications for policymakers who are grappling with the challenges of immigration today.

In the second part of our conversation with Professor Bryan Caplan, he shares his insights on the selfless reasons to have more kids, shedding light on the benefits beyond individual gains. As a strong proponent of open borders, he argues against the criticism regarding the potential strain on welfare systems. Professor Caplan explains why he chose the title for his book, "Don't be a feminist," despite receiving advice against it. He also outlines his vision for public education, arguing against government subsidies. Lastly, we explore harmful status quo positions and get a teaser of his upcoming book on housing. We conclude by asking Professor Caplan what gives him hope. We hope you enjoy this final part of our conversation with Professor Bryan Caplan.