The David McWilliams Podcast

This week, we’re diving into a surprising truth: airports are the most democratic spaces in society. Think about it—everyone passes through them, from business tycoons to backpackers, families returning home, and adventurers chasing the sun. In this episode, we explore what Dublin Airport, a global hub unmatched by any other city its size, reveals about Ireland’s place in the world. With over 50 transatlantic flights a week and connections to places as unexpected as Nashville, Dublin Airport tells a fascinating story about how interconnected and diverse Irish society has become. Airports aren’t just gateways—they’re barometers of economic growth, diversity, and even innovation. Why is Ireland exporting microchips instead of machinery? And what does all this mean for a country that’s striving to avoid the perils of economic monoculture? Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! Join us as we nurse our hangovers and take a ride through 2024’s greatest hits—economic and otherwise. From the explosive surge of Swiftonomics (yes, Taylor Swift boosted Ireland’s GDP!) to the surprising resilience of the Centrist Dad Economy, we unpack the stories that defined the year. Did Apple’s €13 billion tax debacle teach us anything? Are we more Boston or Berlin as we outpace Europe in growth? And how did a housing market on the brink coexist with 160,000 fans belting out Anti-Hero in Croke Park? It’s Ireland’s year of contradictions, featuring corporate tax quirks, and the existential debate about whether we’re Connecticut with bad weather or the EU’s cheekiest tax haven. We’re diving deep into the economics of everything that happened this year. Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war in Ukraine drags on, how do we untangle the web of money, power, and manipulation at the heart of Vladimir Putin’s regime? In this Christmas special, we revisit one of our most revealing episodes with financier and political activist Bill Browder, recorded in May 2022.From the origins of Putin’s rise to power to the oligarchs’ uneasy pact and the enduring corruption within Russia, Browder offers an insider’s perspective on the forces driving this geopolitical chess game. With haunting parallels to today’s events, we explore the enduring dynamics of Russia’s kleptocracy, the Western response to the war in Ukraine, and the grim calculus of prolonging conflict to pursue regime change. What’s the West’s real endgame? Can sanctions and military aid shift the balance, or are we destined for years of grinding stalemate? And what does it say about global power when wars are dictated not just by ideology, but by who controls the money? Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we hurtle toward an AI-driven future, what’s really at stake? In this Christmas Eve special, we revisit our conversation with Martin Wolf, the Financial Times’ chief economics correspondent, and dive into his predictions for the seismic changes reshaping our world.From the rise of AI and its potential to dismantle the middle class, to the demographic time bombs ticking in the West and sub-Saharan Africa, we explore how technology, climate, and population shifts are redefining economics and geopolitics. Are we headed for a new era of prosperity, or a feudal system ruled by techno-overlords? And what role does socialising the means of production play in protecting democracy? Happy Christmas! Join the gang! https://plus.acast.com/s/the-david-mcwilliams-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.