Latest Interviews
Showing 16–20 of 20 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist7 min
Dr Fauci: follow the science
Dr Fauci, Dr Anthony Fauci, Edward Carr, Sasha Nauta
Former NIH Director Dr. Anthony Fauci reflected on his seven-presidency tenure and the unprecedented polarization he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he prioritized scientific evidence over political alignment despite enduring misinformation and death threats. He described a toxic shift in public discourse that forced him to correct presidential claims, resulting in severe attacks from far-right groups and a disturbing rise in hostility toward the scientific community. Fauci concluded by urging the next generation of researchers to remain engaged in public service to counteract this erosion of institutional trust and objective fact.
- The Economist10 min
Covid-19: what will happen to the global economy?
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edward Carr
The pandemic has triggered the deepest global recession since the 1930s, establishing a permanent "90 economy" where behavioral shifts rather than lockdown mandates drive lasting contraction in sectors like tourism and manufacturing. While the United States has retreated from global coordination, China is expanding its digital financial influence, though a full displacement of the US dollar remains a prolonged process due to historical inertia. Concurrently, developing nations face acute vulnerability from debt burdens and export shocks, while youth unemployment risks causing long-term labor market scarring that necessitates diversifying supply chains rather than abandoning globalization.
- The Economist13 min
Covid-19: how it will change the world
In an analysis of the pandemic's intersection with geopolitical shifts, The Economist's Edward Carr and Callum Williams argue that the crisis accelerates the decline of the post-WWII order by reinforcing de-globalization and reducing US willingness to lead. The discussion highlights how state power is expanding through unprecedented interventions to prevent bankruptcies and address healthcare vulnerabilities, while simultaneously threatening scientific innovation and the green energy transition due to economic uncertainty. Furthermore, the speakers note that while supply chains face diversification pressures and oil-dependent nations confront a potential structural collapse, emerging market adaptations and persistent unemployment underscore a complex economic landscape where recovery to pre-2020 levels remains unlikely.
- The Economist12 min
Covid-19: what the world has learned during lockdown
Ed Carr, Callum Williams, Edward Carr
A comprehensive review of the pandemic examines uncertain long-term immunity, the divergent economic impacts of lockdowns on wealthy versus emerging markets, and the tension between national self-interest and global vaccine distribution. Epidemiological case studies from Sweden, India, and various Asian nations highlight the varying effectiveness of voluntary versus enforced social distancing amidst constraints like school safety and informal labor. The discussion concludes by urging institutional reforms for the World Health Organization and mandatory domestic production audits to ensure nations can better withstand future viral threats.
- The Economist12 min
Covid-19: more questions about coronavirus, answered
Ed Carr, Alok Jha, Edward Carr
Policymakers and economic analysts are addressing the severe trade-off between strict disease containment and deepening economic contraction, with US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin warning that unemployment could reach 20% without intervention. The event evaluates the likely L-shaped recession trajectory while examining how global aid, healthcare disparities, and the virus's seasonal mutation patterns will shape long-term recovery. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes the necessity of international cooperation to restore scientific trust and accelerate vaccine development within an 18-to-24-month window despite rising nationalistic trends.