Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Panmure LiberumChief Economist Simon French to unpack Modern Monetary Theory—the idea that governments issuing their own currency can spend freely, constrained only by inflation. They explore whether the pandemic offered a real-world test of MMT, why fiscal policy may be too blunt a tool to control inflation and what the theory could mean for UK politics, bond markets and capital allocation.

Sign up to the subscriber event here: 
https://www.bloombergevents.com/ZZ3kna?utm_source=Podcast&utm_campaign=Podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&RefId=sub

Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Panmure Liberum Chief Economist Simon French to unpack Modern Monetary Theory&mdash;the idea that governments issuing their own currency can spend freely, constrained only by inflation. They explore whether the pandemic offered a real-world test of MMT, why fiscal policy may be too blunt a tool to control inflation and what the theory could mean for UK politics, bond markets and capital allocation. Sign up to the subscriber event here:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.bloombergevents.com/ZZ3kna?utm_source=Podcast&amp;utm_campaign=Podcast&amp;utm_medium=Podcast&amp;RefId=sub" data-destination="rte:bind">https://www.bloombergevents.com/ZZ3kna?utm_source=Podcast&amp;utm_campaign=Podcast&amp;utm_medium=Podcast&amp;RefId=sub</a>

Merryn Talks Money with Bloomberg senior columnist Merryn Somerset Webb is your key to understanding how markets work – and how you can make them work for you. Every episode features a relaxed but in-depth conversation with a fund manager, a strategist, a Bloomberg expert or just someone Merryn finds particularly interesting in any given week. Listen in for the kind of insights and explanations everyone can use to help them make better saving and investing choices.

Merryn Talks Money with Bloomberg senior columnist Merryn Somerset Webb is your key to understanding how markets work – and how you can make them work for you. Every episode features a relaxed but in-depth conversation with a fund manager, a strategist, a Bloomberg expert or just someone Merryn finds particularly interesting in any given week. Listen in for the kind of insights and explanations everyone can use to help them make better saving and investing choices.

Merryn Talks Money

Modern Monetary Theory: Free Money or Fiscal Fantasy?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/eae0a6d7-e565-4865-ac17-b3f00139e9ed/transcript

On this week's markets wrap, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss a sharp market rotation driven by growing fears that AI will disrupt – rather than simply enhance – major sectors including legal services, wealth management, and digital platforms. As “old economy” stocks rise and Asian and European markets outperform, Merryn and John debate whether investors should shift away from the US and reassess opportunities in the UK, emerging markets, and smaller caps amid political uncertainty. 

On this week's markets wrap, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss a sharp market rotation driven by growing fears that AI will disrupt &ndash; rather than simply enhance &ndash; major sectors including legal services, wealth management, and digital platforms. As &ldquo;old economy&rdquo; stocks rise and Asian and European markets outperform, Merryn and John debate whether investors should shift away from the US and reassess opportunities in the UK, emerging markets, and smaller caps amid political uncertainty.&nbsp;

Markets Weekly: AI Sparks Market Rotation, UK Political Risk, and the Pensions Property Debate

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/89859f02-f5a1-4a95-8907-b3ef014bbbbb/transcript

With talk of an early UK election swirling, Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice joins Merryn Somerset Webb to make the case that his party is ready to govern. Tice argues that Reform UK, which is leading in the polls, is gearing up policy “working groups” and road-testing power in local councils. He claims day-one moves like serving notice to leave the European Commission on Human Rights, scrapping the Human Rights Act and abandoning a net-zero approach to global warming would help cut energy bills—while he hints at a broader reset for UK markets, pensions, regulation and crypto.

With talk of an early UK election swirling, Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice joins Merryn Somerset Webb to make the case that his party is ready to govern. Tice argues that Reform UK, which is leading in the polls, is gearing up policy &ldquo;working groups&rdquo; and road-testing power in local councils. He claims day-one moves like serving notice to leave the European Commission on Human Rights, scrapping the Human Rights Act and abandoning a net-zero approach to global warming would help cut energy bills&mdash;while he hints at a broader reset for UK markets, pensions, regulation and crypto.

What Reform Plans to Do If It Takes Over the UK with Richard Tice

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5c6855d6-eaa1-49d7-ab9b-b3ed0164b0d5/transcript

Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Sky News economics editor Ed Conway, author of Material World, to explain why the real engines of modern life aren’t apps and algorithms—they’re the raw materials and “unseen” industries that make everything else possible. From salt and ethylene to ammonia and soda ash, Conway argues the UK (and Europe) are rapidly losing core chemical manufacturing capacity, driven by high energy costs and complacency about imports, with serious consequences for healthcare supply chains, industrial resilience and even defense. As the world pivots back toward the physical economy, from AI data centers to net-zero infrastructure, this conversation is a wake-up call for policymakers, investors and anyone who assumes critical materials will always be available on demand.

Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Sky News economics editor Ed Conway, author of Material World, to explain why the real engines of modern life aren&rsquo;t apps and algorithms&mdash;they&rsquo;re the raw materials and &ldquo;unseen&rdquo; industries that make everything else possible. From salt and ethylene to ammonia and soda ash, Conway argues the UK (and Europe) are rapidly losing core chemical manufacturing capacity, driven by high energy costs and complacency about imports, with serious consequences for healthcare supply chains, industrial resilience and even defense. As the world pivots back toward the physical economy, from AI data centers to net-zero infrastructure, this conversation is a wake-up call for policymakers, investors and anyone who assumes critical materials will always be available on demand.

The 'Boring' Industries the UK Can’t Afford to Lose 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5ccdef36-2a45-412f-aafe-b3eb015a91a5/transcript

Modern Monetary Theory: Free Money or Fiscal Fantasy?

In 1 playlist(s)

Merryn Talks Money

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips