The Why? Curve

By Phil Dobbie

Each week Phil Dobbie and Roger Hearing delve into an subject that's influencing us all, from geopolitics to the economy, from society to technology. They talk to experts to help us understand the com... more

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FAQs about The Why? Curve:

How many episodes does The Why? Curve have?

The podcast currently has 60 episodes available.

The Why? Curve episodes:

February 11, 2021 There’s some hope for small business
Thursday 12th February 2021

The government aimed to build a bridge to see businesses through the worst of the crisis brought about by the pandemic. Craig Beaumont, from the Federation of Small Businesses, say, as it turns out, it was a very narrow bridge. That presumably means many have fallen off the sides, but on today’s podcast he talks to Phil Dobbie about how small business operators can see their way across, and the opportunities that lie on the other side. There’s also a look at the top stories in today’s papers, including how Amsterdam has overtaken the City for share trading volumes. And, a year ago, would you have even contemplated a day when the Prime Minister tells you that taking a holiday is illegal? How much longer will this go on for?

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31min
February 10, 2021 Don’t tax now Mr Sunak
Wednesday 10th February 2021

We are just a few week’s away from the next budget and there’s been much speculation about how Rishi Sunak will cope with rising government debt. The gloomy picture he portrayed at the spending review last year has undoubtedly got worse with the current lockdown. Nobody expects he will cut spending or raise taxes straight away, but the Milton Friedman in him will want to reduce public debt as quickly as is practicable. Today Berenger’s Kallum Pickering joins Phil Dobbie to suggest that, in historic terms, public debt isn’t too bad. He says the evidence is the underlying economy is doing okay and once we lift lockdown we could see growth return quickly, but it would be too soon to dampen that with tax increases. Also today, Mat Hancock’s latest pronouncements puts UK tourism into the ICU ward.

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29min
February 09, 2021 Musk’s Bitcoin Eureka Moment
Elon Musk has suddenly woken up to Bitcoin. He has put $1.5 billion of it on the Tesla balance sheet and will soon accept it as a payment from customers. But isn’t it a risk for a company, already highly valued given its low underlying earnings, to put so much into such a volatile asset. There’s nothing volatile about Bitcoin according to Max Keiser, an early Bitcoin advocate and investor. It will only increase in value whilst the ever-expanding supply of fiat money, the US dollar in particular, will see those currencies lose value. He makes the bold prediction that as Bitcoin gains momentum, the US dollar will lose 50 percent this year! Plus, performing artists are another Brexit casualty, and could Britain be swamped with the South African mutant strain of COVID-19, with a vaccine that does little to stop it?
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25min
February 08, 2021 Brexit woes, efficacy worries and inflation concerns
Monday 8th February 2021

Sorry if this seems like an unnecessary batch of negativity at the start of the week. First off, though, we look at the Superbowl in the US, with big advertisers pulling out. Then we look at Joe Biden’s attempts to push through his $1.9 trillion stimulus package, which is facing opposition because of concerns all this extra money will create inflation. But will it when so many people are out of work? And Jon Danzig joins us to talk about all that’s been going wrong with Brexit. Businesses are finding the barriers to trade with their most important customers and suppliers are now creating headaches for them. So, what can be done about it. Listen in to find out if there’s an answer.

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29min
February 05, 2021 The earth is round, and Google is bigger than Australia
The earth is round is the opening line of a $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News launched by Smartmatic over false claims of voter fraud in the US election. The Murdoch media is having a better time of it in Australia where the government has taken his side against Facebook and Google, insisted major publishers get paid for links from online media. Paul Wallbank joins Phil Dobbie to describe the events that could see Google pulling search out of Australia. Plus, Bank of England Andrew Bailey described a mixed outlook for the UK economy yesterday. The only thing we could be clear on was that he needs to get a better internet connection.
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26min
February 04, 2021 Draghi - Italy’s latest hope
Friday 4th February 2021

Assuming he can get the support of the Italian parliament, Mario Draghi is to become the country’s latest Prime Minister. How long will he last? Phil Dobbie talks to economist Steve Keen about the problems he faces, not least is managing debt in contravention of the Maastricht treaty. Also today, vaccine hopes for the UK as Chris Witty says the worst of the latest wave is over, fuelling more division in the Tory party about when schools should return and lockdown restrictions lifted. Bigger news perhaps, is the acceptance of the Sputnik-V vaccine as a genuine contributor to the pandemic solution.

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21min
February 03, 2021 Taking control. As the UK opens one door, another closes.
Jezz Bezos has announced he is stepping down as CEO of Amazon, the company he founded 27 years ago, just after another bumper quarter of sales. Also on today’s podcast Phil Dobbie looks at the troubles brewing with the northern Ireland protocol. Meanwhile, whilst the UK has taken control of its border against the EU, supposedly, another border is being opened up. Since the weekend British Nationals living in Hong Kong have the right to apply to live in the UK, with a route to permanent settlement. Harjap Bhangal suggests the stumbling block will be the reluctance of some, himself included, to advertise their services in Hong Kong, fearing the response from the Chinese government.
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22min
February 02, 2021 Mutant Strains and Share Gains
The share market on both sides of the Atlantic returned to normal yesterday, whatever normal is. Phil Dobbie asks shares expert Rodney Hobson whether there was anything to learn from the Redditt escapades of the last week, and whether the markets will ever be the same again? And, with the newspapers this morning leading on the race to prevent further spread of the South African strain of the virus, doesn’t this demonstrate the need to vaccinate the planet, not just those countries who can afford it? And could Richard Branson have the answer for those wanting to escape COVID-19?
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23min
February 01, 2021 Reddit Rebels and the Stamp Duty Holiday
In this first edition of It’s the Business Phil Dobbie talks to property expert Russell Quirk ahead of today’s hearing on extending the Stamp Duty Holiday. Should it be done, if so how, and should it ever have been introduced in the first place? There’s also an explanation of how Redditt warriors have been using people power to control the excesses of Wall Street, and why Germany in particular is so upset about the slow vaccine rollout in Europe.
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20min
January 14, 2021 It's The Business - trailer
It's coming in late January. A spanking brand new business podcast that gets you across the main stories of the day, aiming to blend depth and explanations, whilst being accessible to everyone. So, if you want to know what's happening in the economy and the world of business, subscribe now, so you've there for episode one.
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2min

FAQs about The Why? Curve:

How many episodes does The Why? Curve have?

The podcast currently has 60 episodes available.