Latest Interviews
Showing 1–15 of 20 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Goldman Sachs16 min
Energy Disruptions Are Here to Stay
Amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Russia, the oil market has stabilized around $80–$85 for Q3 as investors focus on fundamental product deficits rather than headline volatility. While crude supply shocks have been partially mitigated by Russian export growth and strategic stockpiles, severe tightness in diesel and heating oil inventories threatens to sustain elevated prices through winter. Market analysts project a potential price dip to the $70s in Q4 if diplomatic progress occurs, though a significant supply response is unlikely before 2027 due to the long timeline required to rebuild global inventories.
- Goldman Sachs12 min
“Stocks Are Still Very Undervalued”
Goldman Sachs projects a 30% recession probability for late 2024 while anticipating strong global growth driven by AI integration, German defense spending, and significant U.S. fiscal expansion. The firm recommends a long U.S. stock strategy based on undervaluation and currency debasement, despite a Federal Reserve divergence where Governors Waller and Bowman urge immediate rate cuts against Chair Powell's wait-and-see approach. Investors are advised to monitor seasonal liquidity risks in August and prepare for a credit boom that could drive mortgage origination and inflation by mid-2025.
- The Economist9 min
How more women can become CEOs
While the FTSE 100 recently achieved gender parity among non-executive directors, the path to equal female representation in CEO roles remains decades away due to the persistent "motherhood penalty" and structural hiring biases. High-profile departures in 2023, often driven by the "glass cliff" phenomenon where women are appointed during crises, highlight the urgent need to replace ineffective training with behavioral design and Nordic-style family support policies. Experts argue that accelerating these systemic changes is essential to unlock the superior decision-making and success rates associated with fully utilizing the female talent pipeline.
- The Economist18 min
The biggest bank heist in history (and why you've never heard of it)
Nicolas Pelham, Hussein Kanbar Agha, Jonathan Beckman, Mustafa Kadhimi, Mohammad Soudani, Thea Jahar-Lafda
In August 2022, a systematic theft of $2.5 billion from the Iraqi General Commission for Taxes was exposed, with the central plotter Noor Zahair bypassing official controls to distribute funds to five shell companies. Although Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhimi's administration initially arrested Zahair as part of a political maneuver against the pro-Iranian Fatah Alliance, the subsequent government collapse led to Zahair's release and the issuance of arrest warrants for the investigators. The operation exemplifies a broader pattern of grand corruption where the majority of the stolen cash remains missing and is allegedly reinvested into Baghdad's construction boom while key figures evade lasting legal consequences.
- The Economist14 min
Who should pay for a warming planet?
Saúl, Yasser Mozby, Catherine Braille
Accelerating climate disasters and stalled political action have driven a surge in climate litigation, with cases tripling from 83 in 2011 to 227 in 2021 to hold entities like German utility RWE liable for global emissions and compel government action. High-profile precedents include the September 2022 UN Human Rights Committee ruling against Australia for violating the rights of Torres Strait Islanders and Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya's suit seeking compensation for flood defenses. Despite legal hurdles regarding jurisdiction and causation in jurisdictions like the US, these lawsuits increasingly serve as strategic tools for Indigenous communities and vulnerable populations to pressure governments and corporations into accelerating adaptation and mitigation policies.
- The Economist15 min
Why America’s murder rate has spiked
Between 2020 and 2022, the United States experienced a historic surge in homicides that erased decades of progress, driven by record firearm availability, pandemic-induced isolation, and eroded community trust following high-profile police killings. This spike disproportionately impacted Black communities and major cities like Philadelphia and New York, where violence rates climbed significantly despite the broader national trend diverging from global patterns. While violence interruption programs and calls for restored police relations offer potential mitigation strategies, experts warn that without targeted intervention, these elevated murder rates risk becoming a permanent national baseline.
- The Economist18 min
Rape in the British military: women speak out
Rebecca, Emma Norton, Lucy, Jean, Graham House, Anne-Marie Element
Following a 2021 parliamentary inquiry that documented systemic sexual harassment and bullying among British military women through over 4,000 testimonies, the government introduced reforms to strengthen dismissal powers and separate investigations from the chain of command. Despite these measures, conviction rates for rape remain significantly lower in military courts than civilian ones, and critics maintain that the military culture of impunity persists because key recommendations like transferring cases to civilian authorities have not been fully adopted. Consequently, victims continue to face severe psychological trauma and career risks, as the institution's internal incentives prioritize reputation over justice.
- The Economist14 min
Can Brazil Survive Bolsonaro?
Bolsonaro, Joe Biden, Lula, Sarah Maslin
Set against Rio de Janeiro's backdrop of systemic corruption, high police violence, and pandemic-driven healthcare strain, President Jair Bolsonaro navigated a political crisis marked by Brazil's highest global death toll in April 2020 and a catastrophic rise in Amazon deforestation. Although his 2018 election capitalized on anti-corruption sentiment and evangelical support through an initial emergency welfare program, his approval ratings have since collapsed below 30% due to soaring unemployment, the withdrawal of economic aid, and failed anti-corruption reforms that protect his family. As the nation approaches the 2022 presidential rematch between Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, democratic institutions like the Supreme Court continue to check executive overreach while analysts warn of escalating tension between the military, the government, and long-term democratic stability.
- The Economist9 min
Alexei Navalny: will the West stand up to Russia?
Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Shashank Joshi
Vladimir Putin has escalated tensions by re-detaining opposition leader Alexei Navalny and deploying over 100,000 troops to the Ukrainian border to signal domestic strength and test Western resolve. While the United States and its allies respond with targeted sanctions against intelligence operatives and diplomatic expulsions, experts warn that these measures have thus far failed to alter Kremlin behavior or prevent the intimidation of Ukraine. The West now prepares for a severe security crisis and fresh sanctions should Moscow pursue further aggression or annexation in the Donbass region, marking a critical shift in European security dynamics.
- The Economist8 min
How AI is transforming the creative industries
Experts at the event analyzed how AI acts as a collaborative tool that reshapes the creative arts landscape rather than simply displacing human artists. Key figures such as artist Mario Klingermann and Professor Marcus de Sautoy highlighted the emergence of new roles like data curators while addressing urgent legal challenges regarding intellectual property and voice mimicry. The consensus points toward a future where these technologies foster unprecedented forms of artistic expression, though the industry must navigate significant ethical and regulatory transitions to protect current creators.
- The Economist14 min
The remote-working revolution: how to get it right
Experts analyze the permanent integration of remote work, highlighting divergent global adoption rates and emerging legal complexities regarding tax liability and employment jurisdiction across nations like Finland and France. The discussion further examines operational risks such as workplace inequality, where junior staff face hurdles in networking and ergonomic safety, prompting corporate policy shifts including salary adjustments and office space reductions. Ultimately, the convergence of evolving national legislation and internal employer frameworks aims to establish sustainable boundaries for working hours, digital privacy, and future organizational structures.
- The Economist13 min
Israel’s election: what next for Netanyahu?
Netanyahu, Anchelle Pfeffer, Greg Karlstrom
Facing indictments for bribery and fraud, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called his fourth election in less than two years as a strategy to secure immunity legislation and avoid a trial that could strip him of executive power. While polls suggest his Likud party is unlikely to reach his target of 40 seats, the outcome hinges on small right-wing parties like Naftali Bennett's, whose kingmaker status could either extend Netanyahu's centralized, presidential-style governance or force a fragile opposition coalition led by Yair Lapid. Regardless of the winner, structural barriers to Palestinian statehood remain intact, though a new administration might improve relations with the U.S. Democratic leadership compared to the current strained bilateral ties.
- Goldman Sachs13 min
Big, Bold, Strategic Moves: The 2021 M&A Outlook
Stephan Feldgoise, Mark Sorrell, Jake Seward, Stefan Feldgeus
Goldman Sachs reported a historic $1.8 trillion in M&A volume during late 2020 and early 2021, driven by abundant private capital, open credit markets, and a strategic shift from risk mitigation to aggressive growth positioning. The firm executed over 100 transactions largely through virtual innovation, including drone site visits, while clients increasingly pursued larger, complex deals and unsolicited bids. Looking ahead, the investment bank forecasts a surge in cross-border activity and large-ticket transactions exceeding $10 billion as vaccine distribution eases restrictions and boards prioritize global repositioning.
- Goldman Sachs7 min
How Technology is Disrupting the Insurance Industry
Valued at approximately $5 trillion, the global insurance market is undergoing significant technological disruption driven by $7 billion in recent venture capital, strategic M&A activity, and the adoption of AI, IoT, and cloud-based core systems. While incumbents leverage minority investments and distribution partnerships to maintain relevance, emerging insurtechs are utilizing full-stack direct models and advanced underwriting automation to optimize customer acquisition and retention across life, auto, and commercial lines. This dynamic fosters a non-winner-takes-all environment where collaboration between established carriers and innovative entrants focuses on re-bundling offerings and utilizing alternative data for precise risk assessment.
- Goldman Sachs15 min
Ben Cardin, Steve Daines, Maggie Hassan, US Senators
Ben Cardin, Steve Daines, Maggie Hassan
Senate leaders utilized bipartisan collaboration and direct stakeholder feedback to pass the Paycheck Protection Program unanimously, successfully adapting its terms to extend loan forgiveness to 24 weeks and adjust spending limits based on real-time economic data. Senators Hassan and Daines highlighted the necessity of combining personal advocacy stories with agile administrative adjustments, such as rapid policy "patches," to effectively support small businesses during the evolving COVID-19 crisis. The committee's focus on shared goals ensured the program addressed diverse friction points while maintaining flexibility for potential future funding rounds to meet ongoing recovery needs.