Helen Joyce
Showing 1–3 of 3 transcripts.
- The Economist8 min
Crypto: a beginner’s guide
Mathieu Favard, Alice Fullwood, Helen Joyce
This presentation defines cryptocurrency as a decentralized system using blockchain technology to validate transactions without intermediaries, detailing the mining process that secures networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum. It distinguishes unique assets from standard tokens by explaining Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and traces the origins of industry slang such as "hodler" within the market's volatile culture. The discussion ultimately contextualizes the sector as a complex landscape where technical innovation in finance coexists with significant concerns regarding fraud, environmental impact, and narrative cycles.
- The Economist11 min
Can vaccine passports kickstart the economy?
Governments worldwide are deploying vaccine passports to accelerate economic recovery and restore civil freedoms, with Israel's "Green Pass" serving as a primary model driving a projected 7.5% growth rate. While these digital credentials facilitate access to venues and travel, their implementation faces significant hurdles including the risk of viral transmission from new variants, deepening socioeconomic inequalities along generational and racial lines, and serious civil liberties concerns regarding data privacy. Experts warn that without robust transparency and sustained vaccine efficacy, these temporary measures could evolve into permanent mechanisms that further entrench disparities between wealthy and developing nations.
- The Economist25 min
Tony Blair on the future of liberalism
Marking the 175th anniversary of *The Economist* and the 21st anniversary of New Labour, former Prime Minister Tony Blair reflects on the 1998, 2003, and 2004 policy decisions that contributed to modern societal fractures while outlining a renewal strategy for liberalism. Blair proposes addressing root causes of polarization through strict immigration controls without prejudice, a proactive technological policy agenda, and a return to positive-sum economic growth to counter the rise of populism. Urging the restoration of a rational political center, he suggests resolving the Brexit impasse via a second referendum and warns that without a centrist platform, the UK risks perpetual political paralysis between the extremes.