The Beverage Report Podcast

LSE Department of Economics
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This year Jacinta Feng and Urvi Gaur (third year Economics students) are leading a team of nine 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. 11/10/2025

    Prof. Janet Currie | Public Policy, Health, and Child Welfare Economics

    In today’s episode of The Beverage Report, we are interviewing Professor Janet Currie, one of the world’s leading economists on child wellbeing and health policy. How do early-life conditions shape long-term health and opportunity? Why aren’t more families able to access social welfare programs designed to support them? What can we learn about inequality by studying children’s health, medication use, and mental well-being? And what does the future hold for research on reducing long-term disparities? Professor Currie explores these questions in detail, sharing insights from her extensive and prolific work on health economics, child development, and public policy. She also shares her hopes for how her research can continue to influence the real world, and offers advice for those looking to make an impact through their own studies. Tune in to this fascinating episode that dives into Professor Currie’s perspective on economics, and how policy, health, and inequality affect us all from the moment we are born (and in some ways, even before).

    30 min

  2. 03/19/2025

    Prof. Erik Angner | Philosophy and Economics, Happiness and Behavioural Economics

    In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview a leading philosopher and economist, Prof. Erik Angner. How does a philosophy and economics background shape perspective? Is it important for everyone to be made aware of basic economics to deal with the world's problems? How can we interpret happiness and the data that comes with it? Throughout the discussion Prof. Erik Angner explores the complexity beyond economic models, rather acknowledging the importance of economic intuition. Tune in to this interesting episode that reveals the deep interconnectedness between human behaviour and economics.

    39 min

  3. 01/30/2025

    Dr Gopi Shah Goda I Ageing Populations, Health Economics and COVID-19

    In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview a leading economic researcher and advisor, Dr Gopi Shah Goda. Are insurance markets are inherently persistently inefficient? How can governments adapt policies to accommodate an ageing population? Are we still experiencing persistent reductions in labour supply due to COVID-19? Throughout the discussion Dr Goda references her extensive career including her year serving as a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers and her papers as a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.  Tune in to this exciting episode that reflects upon US economic policies surrounding health and an ageing population.

    33 min

  4. 01/26/2025

    Prof. Jon Danielsson | AI and Financial Systems, Cryptocurrencies & Financial Regulation

    In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview a leading expert on financial risk and the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the financial system and also one of our very own finance professors, Professor Jon Danielsson. How is AI reshaping the private financial sector, and what are the ethical dilemmas and risks it introduces, such as pro-cyclicality and market instability? What challenges arise in regulating AI-driven decisions, and how can legal frameworks address the complexities of responsibility? The conversation also explores the world of cryptocurrencies: what are their political roots, speculative nature, and potential impact on traditional financial systems? Why has current regulation taken a hands-off approach, and could this change as crypto evolves? The guest delves into the distinction between endogenous and exogenous risks in finance, shedding light on how institutional diversity can help mitigate systemic crises. Throughout the discussion, Professor Danielsson highlights the evolving landscape of financial regulation, the disruptive potential of digital currencies, and the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.  Tune in to this thought-provoking episode of the Beverage Podcast to uncover the future of finance and gain insights into the shifting dynamics of our economic systems!

    37 min

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 11/26/2024

    Prof. Pranab Bardhan | Political Economy, Global Development, and an Academic Memoir

    In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview Professor Pranab Bardhan, Professor Emeritus of Economics at UC Berkeley, former chief editor of the Journal of Development Economics, and the celebrated author of Charaiveti and A World of Insecurity.  What impact does the rise of populism have on global development? How does economic policy shape democracies? And what can we learn from the intersection of politics and economics across India, China, and the West? Professor Bardhan begins sharing his experience writing his memoir, Charaiveti. He delves into his global academic journey as someone who has a plethora of experience both researching and teaching around the world, he shares how his experiences from Kolkata to Cambridge to MIT have influenced his work on the political economy. He later discusses the shifting landscape of democracy, drawing from his observations on India’s evolving political climate, media influence, and institutional autonomy. Professor Bardhan also explores the "Americanization" of economics and the growing importance of development economics in addressing global inequality. He further advocates for independent institutions and competitive cultures to support innovation and autonomy in universities worldwide.  Listen in as Professor Bardhan reveals thought-provoking insights on populism, economic security, and democracy with reference to his book: A world of insecurity. He offers a nuanced perspective on the current and future challenges facing economies around the globe such as toxic social media as an echo chamber. This episode will captivate anyone interested in the complex dynamics of economics, politics, and society. Tune in to explore Professor Pranab Bardhan’s impactful research and his remarkable journey as an economist and global thinker!

    57 min

  8. 11/26/2024

    Dr. Jonathon Hazell | Inflation, Wage Rigidity & Measuring the Natural Rate of Interest

    In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview Dr Jonathon Hazell, Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the LSE. How can we overcome estimation issues to evaluate the slope of the Phillips curve?  What can previous periods of hyperinflation teach us, when looking to control high levels of inflation post-COVID?  How do behavioural factors influence the wage rigidity of newly hired workers? What were the macroeconomic implications of the September 2022 UK mini-budget? Dr Hazell answers these questions and more, drawing on his experience in macroeconomics and labour economics.  He explains his innovative approach to measuring the natural rate of interest, r*, through using property prices, giving the listeners a flavour of how empirical methods can be applied to macroeconomics. Tune into this episode to learn more about Dr Hazell’s research and personal journey with economics, from his very first encounters with the subject to becoming the economist he is today!

    49 min
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About

This year Jacinta Feng and Urvi Gaur (third year Economics students) are leading a team of nine 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!

Information

  • Creator
    LSE Department of Economics
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © LSE Department of Economics
  • Show Website
    The Beverage Report Podcast