Podcasts
One year on: developments in artificial intelligence (AI)
In this episode, one year on from their conversation in the very first Top of the Agenda podcast, Dr Helen Jenkins welcomes back Professor Richard Susskind CBE. Together they delve into the themes in Professor Susskind’s new book, ‘How to think about AI: A guide for the perplexed’, and share… Read More
ESG: does the political shift mean businesses will lose out?
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles have long been a key factor in Boardroom discussions and decisions. However recent political developments—particularly in the US—have sparked a stark change in direction. Is it all over for ESG, or is there a future? In this episode of Top of the Agenda,… Read More
Leveraged buyouts: a smart strategy or a risky gamble?
The second episode in the Top of the Agenda series on private equity demystifies leveraged buyouts (LBOs); a widely used yet controversial private equity strategy. While LBOs can offer the potential for substantial returns by using debt to finance acquisitions, they also come with significant risks such as excessive debt… Read More
Collective actions: are consumers reaping the benefits?
When companies engage in price fixing, abuse their market dominance, or form illegal cartels, consumers and businesses can suffer but since 2015 in the UK and 2020 across the EU, collective actions are challenging these anti-competitive practices and are seeking compensation. Many of us may even be members of a… Read More
How can and should economic regulation contribute to growth?
Will reducing or changing economic regulation kickstart our economy? As policymakers across Europe seek ways to boost economic performance, the role of regulation is under the spotlight. Should economic regulators actively promote growth, or does their core purpose lie elsewhere? In the UK, recent government pressure on regulators to support… Read More
How can greater gender diversity improve business performance?
Why should businesses support gender diversity? Oxera and Business in the Community (BITC) have worked together to research the business case for gender equity and diversity. Their findings reveal that companies with higher diversity report increased sales revenue, expanded customer base, and greater profit margins than their competitors. These organisations… Read More
The Draghi Report: How to deliver Europe’s innovation imperative?
How can Europe become more innovative to succeed in an increasingly competitive and uncertain global environment? The recent report by Mario Draghi on the future of European competitiveness is a sobering read that highlights the low growth and productivity performance of the EU over the last two decades and proposes… Read More
Demystifying private equity
What is private equity? What do PE firms do, how do they make their money, and why do companies seek out private equity investment? The term private equity often conjures up images of exclusive deals, high stakes investment, and elite financial circles but plenty of companies use it successfully to… Read More
Is dynamic pricing an ambush or advantage for consumers?
The debate as to whether or when dynamic pricing is fair and reasonable continues, and there are even calls for it be banned. Dynamic pricing has been in the news recently, with backlash from fans trying to secure a ticket to see Oasis in concert. You will have experienced dynamic… Read More
How can economics help governments decide how to spend scarce public funds?
In the UK, and across Europe, there are many public-funded areas crying out for more investment. However, the context of low growth, high levels of public debt and public interest payments, mean that tough decisions on spending priorities across public services, infrastructure and social security have to be made. In… Read More