VoxTalk Vaults

David Miles interviewed by Viv Davies, 27 November 2012

David Miles talks to Viv Davies about the conclusions of his recent research on quantitative easing and unconventional monetary policy. Miles discusses the different types of 'asset purchasing programmes' adopted by the Bank of England, the Fed and the ECB; they also discuss the importance of current research in these areas and the potential risks associated with quantitative easing. The interview was recorded at the Bank of England on 21 November 2012. 

Philippe Weil interviewed by Viv Davies, 19 November 2012

Philippe Weil, newly appointed Chair of CEPR’s Euro Area Business Cycle Dating Committee, talks to Viv Davies about the Committee’s recent announcement of a peak in economic activity in the Eurozone in the third quarter of 2011 and that the Eurozone has been in recession since then. They discuss the issue of heterogeneity of business cycles of Eurozone countries, the likely impact of subsequent data revisions, and future plans for the Dating Committee. The interview was recorded on 16 November 2012. 

John Sides interviewed by Romesh Vaitilingam, 07 November 2012

In late September 2012, John Sides of George Washington University spoke to Romesh Vaitilingam about the 'Moneyball' approach to politics – using systematic economic and polling data (rather than 'narrative' and 'gut feeling') to forecast election winners. The US presidential election result confirms the value of this scientific method. The interview includes discussion of the influence of the state of the economy on voters’ intentions, the role of campaign finance and what might happen to US political gridlock after the election. The interview was recorded in Washington DC.

Alvin Roth interviewed by Romesh Vaitilingam, 16 October 2012

In this Vox Talk from 2008, Alvin Roth talks to Romesh Vaitilingam about some of the research for which he was recently awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (with Lloyd Shapley). They discuss his work designing markets for kidney exchange, mechanisms for school choice in New York and Boston, and efficient systems for getting doctors and economists into their first jobs. Roth also explains the significance of repugnance as a constraint on markets.

Christopher Sims interviewed by Viv Davies, 12 October 2012

Nobel laureate, Christopher Sims, talks to Viv Davies about the institutional restructuring needed to put the Eurozone on a path to sustainable recovery. Sims contrasts the structural differences of the US, Japan and the UK with the Eurozone; they discuss the role of the ECB, eurobonds, a common fiscal commitment, and the rationale for country-level default. They also discuss Sims' prophetic paper on "The Precarious Fiscal Foundations of EMU" (1999), in which he wrote about the risks of a euro crisis.The interview was recorded in Brussels on 21 September 2012.

Diane Coyle interviewed by Viv Davies, 25 September 2012

Diane Coyle talks to Viv Davies about her recent edited volume on 'What's the use of economics?' They discuss what economists need to bring to their jobs and the way in which education in universities could be improved to fit economic graduates better for the real world. The interview was recorded in London on 22 September 2012.

John Van Reenen interviewed by Viv Davies, 15 September 2012

John Van Reenen talks to Viv Davies about fiscal consolidation during a depression. They discuss Van Reenen's recent work on quantifying the costs and benefits of delaying austerity measures until recovery is clearly established. They also discuss whether austerity has gone too far. Van Reenen presents the case for a more federal Europe. The interview was recorded at the LSE on 13 September 2012.

Xavier Freixas interviewed by Viv Davies, 07 September 2012

Xavier Freixas talks to Viv Davies about the recent changes in the European banking resolution regime. They discuss the tension between ex ante incentives and ex post efficiency in banking. Freixas argues that the best way to analyse a bank resolution situation is to think of it as a bargaining game between the bank's shareholders and the treasury. The interview was recorded by phone on 6 September 2012.

Simon Evenett interviewed by Viv Davies, 20 July 2012

Simon Evenett of the University of St Gallen talks to Viv Davies about the recent increase of protectionist measures in the world trading system. They also discuss the implications of the rise in regional trade agreements, the potential effects of Russia joining the WTO and the impact of slow growth in Europe on the region’s trade with the rest of the world. Evenett maintains that defenders of the world trading system should do more to prevent the current subordination of trade policy. The interview was recorded by telephone on 17 July 2012.

Paul De Grauwe interviewed by Viv Davies, 13 July 2012

Paul De Grauwe of the LSE talks to Viv Davies about his recent Vox column on the potentially destabilising effects of the decisions taken at the last crisis summit of Eurozone leaders. He explains how the new recapitalisation role established for the ESM is doomed to fail and how the ECB is operating on the wrong business model. They discuss how full banking union will not be possible without a degree of political union, and how trust could create self-fulfilling positive outcomes for the Eurozone. The interview was recorded in London on 10 July 2012.