Latest Interviews
Showing 46–52 of 52 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist10 min
Covid-19: what you need to know about the second wave
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Slavea Chankova
Experts anticipate recurring, localized waves of the virus driven by specific vulnerable populations until a vaccine achieves herd immunity. Governments are expected to prioritize targeted restrictions over broad lockdowns to mitigate economic fallout, though compliance may wane as public fatigue sets in. Simultaneously, unprecedented scientific collaboration contrasts with weak multilateral coordination on trade and travel, while authoritarian regimes leverage the crisis to consolidate power and democratic institutions face heightened risks regarding civil liberties and election security.
- The Economist38 min
UK Election: live Q&A with The Economist
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Adrian Wooldridge, Sarah Collinson
The Conservative Party secured a decisive majority with 364 seats, marking its largest electoral victory since the Margaret Thatcher era and triggering a dramatic realignment that collapsed the traditional Labour "Red Wall" in northern England. Led by Boris Johnson, the government now holds a clear mandate to finalize Brexit by January 31st while navigating the economic challenges of negotiating a permanent trade deal and balancing the conflicting interests of its new working-class and traditional southern voters. The outcome has stabilized financial markets and reshaped the UK's international relations by removing the threat of a Labour-led anti-NATO policy, positioning the nation for a renewed focus on the Anglosphere despite lingering uncertainties regarding long-term political durability.
- The Economist24 min
David Miliband on the future of liberalism
David Miliband, Zanny Minton Beddoes
David Miliband critiques the current global political landscape by diagnosing a triad of broken economic, cultural, and political contracts that have fueled populist movements across Europe and the United States. He advocates for a revitalized social democracy offering concrete solutions to inequality, while urging the West to maintain a unified front in managing relations with China and resolving refugee crises through enhanced international cooperation rather than isolationism. The discussion concludes with an assessment of the International Rescue Committee's operational challenges and a strategic call for "peacemaking" to address the root causes of modern displacement.
- The Economist35 min
Steve Bannon debate at The Economist #OpenFutures festival
Steve Bannon, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Julissa Arce, Daniel Franklin
Steve Bannon articulates a strategy of economic nationalism that prioritizes immigration restrictions and trade protectionism to reclaim American jobs, while defending European populist leaders like Viktor Orbán and Matteo Salvini as legitimate defenders of national sovereignty. He characterizes China as a totalitarian rival in an economic war and frames the Paris Climate Agreement as a geopolitical failure, arguing instead that the true threat to the working class lies in the convergence of automation and genetic engineering. This worldview drives a broader mission to deconstruct the administrative state and appoint conservative judges who can dismantle regulatory overreach, positioning Donald Trump as the essential vehicle to break the "medieval theology" of free trade.
- The Economist8 min
Women and the Saudi revolution
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Noor Shabib, Hoda al-Halaissi
Led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia is executing a rapid top-down modernization strategy that lifts social restrictions like the ban on women driving while simultaneously centralizing political power and suppressing dissent. Although these reforms aim to diversify the oil-dependent economy by integrating the majority-female university graduate workforce, they face significant risks from religious puritans, rival royals, and a volatile youth population whose aspirations remain unmet by the regime's refusal to democratize. The success of this delicate balancing act is critical, as a stable, moderate Saudi Arabia could significantly enhance regional security and offer a counter-narrative to extremist interpretations of Islam globally.
- Milken Institute56 min
Global Overview
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Willem Buiter, Sir Paul Collier, Larry Hatheway, Ana Palacio, Paul Collier
Economists Willem Buiter, Paul Collier, and Larry Hathaway warn of a 2016 global recession driven by elevated debt, China's overstated growth, and the collapse of emerging market models, while Anna Palacio cautions that political fragmentation and the rise of populism in the US and Europe threaten globalization. The panelists argue that advanced economies face deep structural unemployment and demographic stagnation, prompting divergent prescriptions ranging from Buiter's "helicopter money" proposals to Collier's advocacy for civic over ethnic identity. Despite these divisions, the group identifies emerging consensus on urgent collective action for climate change and health crises, alongside calls for massive public infrastructure investment to restart economic momentum.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Global Overview with Opening Remarks
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Willem Buiter, Sir Paul Collier, Larry Hatheway, Ana Palacio, Paul Collier
At the Milken Institute London Summit, a panel including Willem Buiter, Anna Palacio, and Paul Collier convened at the Grand Connaught Rooms to address a deteriorating global economic outlook driven by Chinese debt and geopolitical instability. The experts characterized the current era as one of political paralysis and rising populism, while debating whether diversity or nationalism better sustains European social capital. Their discussion concluded with urgent policy recommendations ranging from helicopter money and guaranteed income to massive public infrastructure investment to restore growth and mitigate inequality.