VoxTalk Vaults

Matthew Kahn interviewed by Romesh Vaitilingam, 30 September 2011

Matthew Kahn of the University of California, Los Angeles, talks to Romesh Vaitilingam about global warming – and the incentives for individuals, cities and nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions or to adapt their lives to a warmer planet. He explains how free market capitalism might drive effective climate change mitigation or adaptation. The interview was recorded at Growth Week in London in September 2011.

Viral Acharya interviewed by Viv Davies, 23 September 2011

Viral Acharya of New York University talks to Viv Davies about the recent report issued by the UK's Independent Commission on Banking. They discuss capital requirements and the proposal to ringfence bank’s retail versus investment activities. They also discuss the likely costs of the proposals and what the implications may be for competition in the banking sector. Acharya stresses in particular the importance of appropriate risk weights even with ringfencing, especially in context of the current Eurozone debt crisis. The interview was recorded on 16 September 2011.

Thomas Cooley interviewed by Viv Davies, 16 September 2011

Thomas Cooley of New York University talks to Viv Davies about the debt crisis and why the Eurozone needs a credible institutional commitment and a strong fiscal authority. They discuss the role of the ECB, the banking system, ‘forced borrowing’ and the prospect of a two-track Eurozone. Cooley maintains that investment in education will be key to stimulating growth and competitiveness in the failing Eurozone economies. The interview was recorded on 15 September 2011.

Robert Aumann interviewed by Romesh Vaitilingam, 09 September 2011

Nobel laureate Robert Aumann of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem talks to Romesh Vaitilingam about his work on ‘rule rationality’, the development of game theory and its potential for understanding conflict – from the Pax Romana to the modern day Middle East. The interview was recorded in August 2011 at the Fourth Lindau Meeting on Economic Sciences, which brought together 17 of the 38 living economics laureates with nearly 400 top young economists from around the world.

Peter Diamond interviewed by Romesh Vaitilingam, 02 September 2011

Nobel laureate Peter Diamond of MIT talks to Romesh Vaitilingam about of the impact of improved longevity and the resulting demographic change on the retirement and healthcare systems of the advanced economies. The interview was recorded in August 2011 at the Fourth Lindau Meeting on Economic Sciences, which brought together 17 of the 38 living economics laureates with nearly 400 top young economists from around the world.

Nicholas Bloom interviewed by Viv Davies, 26 August 2011

Nicholas Bloom of Stanford University talks to Viv Davies about the evidence for a double-dip recession as a result of market uncertainties. They discuss market signals and the Eurozone crisis, and how the US and Europe could resolve its debt problems. Bloom maintains that healthcare reform in the US and the retirement age in Europe are key. The interview was recorded on 23 August 2011.

Charles Wyplosz interviewed by Viv Davies, 19 August 2011

Charles Wyplosz of the Graduate Institute, Geneva, talks to Viv Davies about the Eurozone crisis. He explains why it was a mistake to have bailed out Greece in 2010; they discuss the European Financial Stability Facility, Eurobonds and the possibility of further contagion. Wyplosz presents his views of what must now be done to get ahead of the markets, establish long-term fiscal discipline and resolve the crisis. The interview was recorded on 16 August 2011.

Daniel Gros interviewed by Viv Davies, 12 August 2011

Daniel Gros of CEPS talks to Viv Davies about the recent ECB intervention in the bond markets of Spain and Italy. They discuss the European Financial Stability Facility, Eurobonds, double-dip recession and the unsustainablility of increasing leverage. Gros maintains that only the unlimited firepower of the ECB will stop market panic and that patience and a willingness to endure slow growth is now required in the Eurozone. The interview was recorded on 9 August 2011.

David Vines interviewed by Viv Davies, 05 August 2011

David Vines of Oxford University talks to Viv Davies about the recovery prospects for Greece following the country’s second bailout. They discuss the challenges of asymmetric monetary union, Eurobonds, the peripheral economies and the current situation in Italy. Vines presents the case for stronger fiscal management and political leadership. The interview was recorded on 2 August 2011.

Dennis Snower interviewed by Romesh Vaitilingam, 29 July 2011

The first Global Economic Symposium (GES) took place in the early autumn of 2008. Dennis Snower, President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and GES Director, talks to Romesh Vaitilingam about its continuing efforts to bring together people from many professions, nations and cultures to develop solutions to a wide range of global challenges, including financial crises, climate change, poverty and such ‘tragedy of the commons’ phenomena as deforestation and overfishing. The interview was recorded in July 2011.