The Beverage Report Podcast

LSE Department of Economics

This year Isheeka Prabhu and Sophia Marosszeky are leading a team of seven students who share the same goal and passion - bringing forward intellectually-stimulating conversations with economists from the top of their fields, from within LSE and beyond. What sets The Beverage Report apart? Dive into discussions with economists at the frontier of research worldwide, exploring their research, gaining insights, and walking alongside them on their unique academic journeys. Tune in now to elevate your understanding of economics with firsthand wisdom from the best in the game!

  1. 01/26/2025

    Dr. Monica de Bolle | Institutions and Inflation & Latin-American Economics

    In this episode of The Beverage Report Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Monica de Bolle, a distinguished economist with a remarkable journey. From her early exposure to economics through her father’s career at the Brazilian Ministry of Finance and then later the IMF to her PHD at LSE and later research in infectious diseases, Dr. De Bolle’s story offers a unique perspective on the interplay of economics and societal issues. How do institutional trust and policy reform influence hyperinflation? Can Argentina’s dollarisation plans succeed amidst deep-rooted challenges? And what lessons can economists draw from the pandemic to better prepare for future global crises? In the first part of our conversation, Dr. De Bolle reflects on her first hand experience with hyperinflation in Brazil, offering insights into the critical role of institutional reforms in addressing systemic economic instability. She evaluates Argentina’s fiscal strategies under its new leadership, the feasibility of dollarisation, and the challenges of mistrust toward the IMF. She also delves into Brazil’s political and economic landscape, examining the implications of President Lula’s renewed focus on poverty reduction programs like Bolsa Família, his stance on international conflicts, and the tensions of balancing fiscal goals with social equity. The second part of our discussion shifts to public health, where Dr. De Bolle shares her motivation for pursuing research at Harvard Medical School and obtaining a degree in infectious diseases. Drawing on her interdisciplinary expertise, she explores how economists can bridge gaps with scientists to craft effective policies for health crises and climate change. She praises the flexibility and breadth of economics as a tool for addressing real-world challenges, crediting her LSE education for fostering this perspective. Listen in as Dr. De Bolle unpacks complex issues ranging from Latin America’s economic trajectory to the intersection of economics, public health, and climate science. Her insights offer valuable lessons for anyone interested in understanding the multifaceted challenges shaping our global future.

    52 min
  2. 11/28/2024

    Prof. Christopher Rauh | Education, Inequality and Intergenerational Mobility

    In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview Professor Christopher Rauh, Professor of Economics and Data Science at the University of Cambridge, Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo and Research Affiliate at the Centre for Economic Policy Research and Institute of Labor Economics. How do parental beliefs affect the returns to educational and health investment in children? How could voting patterns affect intergenerational mobility and inequality within countries? What could explain the difference in wages between different ethnic groups in the US? Professor Christopher Rauh answers these questions and more in this highly insightful episode. He explores how investments in education, both in terms of finances and time, impact children’s outcomes, highlighting that parental socioeconomic background plays a smaller role in shaping returns than commonly assumed. Professor Rauh also discusses how the composition of voter demographics can have drastic policy implications, with effects on areas such as education having pertinent effects on intergenerational mobility. Shifting focus, Professor Rauh delves into the complexities of inequality across various groups and regions. He explores the underlying factors driving the wage gap between Black and White men in the U.S. and analyses the pandemic's far-reaching effects on inequality across countries as well as the implications for gender inequality. Tune into this episode to learn more about Professor Christopher Rauh’s research and his personal journey as an Economist!

    36 min

About

This year Isheeka Prabhu and Sophia Marosszeky are leading a team of seven students who share the same goal and passion - bringing forward intellectually-stimulating conversations with economists from the top of their fields, from within LSE and beyond. What sets The Beverage Report apart? Dive into discussions with economists at the frontier of research worldwide, exploring their research, gaining insights, and walking alongside them on their unique academic journeys. Tune in now to elevate your understanding of economics with firsthand wisdom from the best in the game!

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