The Business Year Podcast

It’s no secret that global forest coverage has been on a downward path for decades if not centuries, but what is the prognosis? In this podcast, we look at deforestation, reforestation, as well as issues surround carbon offsetting and the seemingly increasing prevalence forest fires.

With Michael Bloomberg spending big in an effort to win the Democratic nomination, we take a look at political financing in the US, UK, Brazil, and Pakistan to discover the extent to which elections can be bought.

In light of the Coronavirus outbreak, this week we look at the economic impact of previous pandemics on the global economy, from the Black Death to Spanish Flu and Ebola.

This week, we delve into the Libyan crisis and analyze the economic interests at play as rival governments battle for control of the country.

As 2019 draws to a close, Kabir, Evan, and I round up our top business stories of the year, from the collapse of Thomas Cook to Facebook's troubled digital currency, Libra.

Following on from episode 77, when we looked at the causes behind protests in Lebanon, Chile, and Hong Kong, this time we take the microscope to Ecuador, Bolivia, Iraq, and Iran to see if we can shed light on the underlying issues behind this wave of global unrest.

From Lebanon to Chile, citizens are taking to the streets in unprecedented numbers to protest a range of issues, usually with economic grievances at the root. This week, we take a look at the protests in Lebanon, Chile, and Hong Kong to see what is behind each movement, what links them, and potential remedies.

This week, we discuss how successfully green, sustainable initiatives are incorporated into growth plans that often require continuous growth and development. If we’re to stave off the Armageddon, we need to take urgent action on energy, cities, food and land use, and water and industry—but how?

This week, we look at how the UK’s trade ties could shape up post Brexit. We’ll get into the details of potential future commercial ties the country can expect with Europe, the US, and commonwealth ally India.

This week, we examine the signs of an impending US, and even global, recession. Downturn in the US could have far-reaching consequences for countries that rely on the US as an export destination, so we dig into the impact it could have on emerging markets around the world. But can it all be averted?

This week, we delve into the strange and complex world of artificial intelligence. Once only associated with wayward robots of sci-fi or the ability of a computer to beat you in a game of chess, today its uses are whispered in the same breath as other modern concepts such as Blockchain, Industry 4.0, and Big Data. In this podcast, we get into a few of the applications of AI and discuss some of the opportunities and challenges.

This week, we look at the economic impacts of rising sea levels and the insurance sector's ability to respond to disaster.

This week, we’re revisiting cryptocurrencies. We check in on Bitcoin, delve into sovereign cryptos, take a look at Facebook's new digital currency Libra, and discuss the evolving regulatory environment.

The Orange Economy is the brainchild of current Colombian president Iván Duque, and forms the basis of his economic diversification strategy. Otherwise known as the creative economy, just what is it all about?

This week, we examine the history and purpose of the G20, things to watch out for this year, and the differences between the G20 and G7.

Continuing our look at the successes, failures, and viability of US sanctions and trade wars, this week we dive into the history of US sanctions on Iran, and discuss what may lay ahead for North Korea.

Can US sanctions on Venezuela bring about regime change? And who will win the US-China trade war? This week, we discuss Trump's use of trade as a weapon and discuss possible outcomes to the MAGA doctrine.

The Jordanian economy has continued to expand despite a myriad of regional challenges. But which sectors are driving that growth? This week, we examine opportunities in tourism and energy, from potential in renewables to the country's top new tourism destination: Aqaba.

This week, we examine the issue of water scarcity, its causes, effects, and what can be done to mitigate it. We look at the emerging “dry corridor” in Central America and Mexico and its contribution to the North America migrant crisis, how Saudi Arabia is utilizing desalination technology, and just what Pakistan can do to reduce its rampant water consumption.

This episode, we conclude our series on the Subcontinent with a look at the prospects and challenges in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.