Latest Interviews
Showing 1–6 of 6 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist8 min
Has the AI boom entered a manic new phase? | The Economist
Henry Curr, Mike Bird, Josh Roberts
US equity markets have reached near-record capitalization levels driven primarily by massive AI-focused "giga IPOs" like SpaceX and anticipated offerings from Anthropic and OpenAI. This concentration, now comprising nearly 40% of the S&P 500, coincides with unusual retail participation and inverted options pricing that signal a shift toward speculative mania. Simultaneously, major technology firms have redirected capital expenditure toward infrastructure, causing a collapse in free cash flow and transforming the sector into a dominant force in global corporate debt markets.
- The Economist11 min
Why Trump’s Venezuela oil gamble won’t pay off
Trump, Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Ethan Wu, Mike Bird
Analysts warn that restoring Venezuelan oil production to historical levels requires over $100 billion in investment and sustained global prices above $80 per barrel, conditions currently unmet by market forecasts and compounded by decades of legal instability following expropriations in the 1970s and 2000s. While U.S. Gulf Coast refineries could benefit from a short-term influx of heavy crude, industry experts argue that such a strategy is economically obsolete given America's status as a net energy exporter and the global shift toward decarbonization and renewable technologies. Consequently, the initiative faces a critical divergence between the administration's desire for immediate geopolitical wins and the oil sector's need for long-term property rights security and viable return horizons.
- The Economist10 min
Former IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath’s warning for rich world economies
Former IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath assessed the global economy from 2019 to 2025, highlighting how emerging markets demonstrated unexpected resilience against the pandemic, war, and inflation thanks to improved fiscal governance and diversified borrowing. Despite this stability, she warned of looming systemic risks including a fragile US financial sector, the opacity of non-bank lending, and a projected global debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 100% by 2030. Addressing these challenges requires advanced economies to confront structural fiscal imbalances and aging demographics, though necessary adjustments to retirement ages face significant political resistance.
- The Economist10 min
Can Vietnam be the new Singapore?
Facing a 46% tariff threat from the Trump administration, Vietnam's leadership under General Secretary To Lam is accelerating a radical bureaucratic overhaul to shift its economy from risk-averse state control toward a private-sector-driven model targeting 70% GDP contribution by 2045. This strategic pivot aims to mitigate eroding labor cost advantages and supply chain gaps by encouraging innovation and demanding greater local integration from foreign investors, though challenges regarding an underdeveloped domestic market persist. Recent inconclusive trade talks highlight the urgent need for these structural reforms as the nation navigates the dual pressures of external geopolitical hostility and internal industrial stagnation.
- The Economist47 min
Import-extort: what to make of Donald Trump’s titanic tariffs
Donald Trump, Mike Bird, Ethan Wu, Simon Rabinovitch, Douglas Irwin, Doug Irwin
On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump invoked national emergency powers to impose a baseline 10% tariff on all imports alongside reciprocal rates targeting nations like China and the European Union, effectively raising the U.S. tariff level to approximately 25%. This unilateral executive action, which exempts Mexico and Canada while closing the de minimis e-commerce loophole, aims to restore domestic manufacturing but faces imminent legal challenges under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Economic analysts warn the policy could trigger stagflation with inflation reaching 5% and reduce GDP by 0.6%, yet global markets have initially reacted with falling bond yields despite alarm from oil, gas, and apparel sectors reliant on imported inputs.
- The Economist25 min
Turkish delight: influencing the new Syria
Mauro Morandi, Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Piotr Zalewski, Mike Bird, Anne Rowe
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is re-engaging Syria to secure its 900-kilometer border and suppress Kurdish autonomy while facilitating the return of three million refugees, a strategy that draws cautious interest from regional powers like Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, the Trump administration has pivoted to integrate cryptocurrencies into the U.S. financial system through an executive order and a new "Doge" body led by Elon Musk, reversing previous restrictions to encourage bank participation. Meanwhile, Mauro Morandi, who lived in isolation on the Italian island of Budeli for three decades, evolved from a recluse into an environmental educator before passing away in his 80s.