The Flip Side

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This podcast series features a lively debate between two of Barclays’ Research analysts taking opposing viewpoints on timely topics of importance to economies and businesses around the globe. By hearing arguments and insights on both sides, we hope you will come away with a greater understanding of the economic implications of sometimes polarizing issues. For more insights from our experts: https://www.cib.barclays

Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank


    • Feb 8, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 18m AVG DURATION
    • 60 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Flip Side

    Can AI solve the modern productivity puzzle?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 19:26


    In episode 60 of The Flip Side, Hiral Patel, Head of Sustainable & Thematic Research, talks to Christian Keller, Head of Economics Research, about the extent to which and pace at which AI could boost productivity levels globally. They explore the potential costs and benefits to businesses and societies, as well as the range of public policy changes related to education, taxation, antitrust and more that may be required if generative AI is to truly become a GPT.

    Is US debt reaching crisis levels?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 19:47


    Warnings that rising US national debt levels are reaching a crisis point have waxed and waned for decades. In Flip Side podcast, our analysts discuss urgent questions about whether the current US government debt is sustainable.

    Are equity markets out of sync with the economy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2023 14:56


    Stock prices across the developed world are generally higher this year, after falling sharply in 2022. Inflation and the pace of interest rate hikes have slowed. Yet equity markets have proven volatile in recent months, with big positive and negative swings that have not always correlated with the latest economic news. In episode 58 of The Flip Side, Jeff Meli, Global Head of Research, and Ajay Rajadhyaksha, Global Chairman of Research, take a deeper look at the data and discuss what is behind the apparent disconnect between equity markets and the economy.

    Are US house prices set to fall?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 17:05


    US housing has been a hot topic since the onset of COVID, with a surge in both home buying and prices. But the housing market may be set for a major correction. Jeff Meli, Global Head of Research, and Ajay Rajadhyaksha, Global Chairman of Research, unpack what's next for the sector, and debate whether the US housing market is set for a major correction.

    Will Electric Vehicles Break the Electric Grid?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 13:20


    Electric vehicles are touted as a way to help reduce CO2 emissions, but can power grids cope with the corresponding electricity demand? Listen to Barclays Research analysts debate the challenges.

    Can the US economy outrun a recession?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 17:56


    In episode 55 of The Flip Side, Global Head of Research Jeff Meli and Chief US Economist Marc Giannoni discuss the warning signs for a potential US recession and whether it can be avoided or if a new cycle is already taking shape.

    Is the bank crisis over or is more fallout ahead?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2023 17:40


    The recent banking turmoil has exposed a longer-term challenge for the sector: the very nature of systemic risk is changing as runs on deposits become easier. Depositors can access their money quickly and easily through advanced digital tools, and social media platforms allow for influence and opinion to spread broadly at pace. In episode 54 of The Flip Side, Global Head of Research Jeff Meli and Senior Credit Analyst covering financial institutions Peter Troisi look back at the root causes of the recent banking crisis and debate the implications and potential fallout yet to come.

    What Are the Trade-Offs of Transition? (Live from ESG Conference in NYC)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 42:05


    At Barclays' inaugural ESG Conference in New York City, Global Head of Research Jeff Meli and Senior Energy Research Analyst Lydia Rainforth recorded Episode 53 of The Flip Side live, debating whether ESG investing is helping or hindering the energy transition.

    Will inflation stall at a high level or decline much further?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 15:50


    Is the US economy on-track for inflation to fall back in line with the Federal Reserve's 2% target by the end of 2023? Our research analysts share their views on inflation in the latest episode of The Flip Side.

    Will the Fed crash the US into recession in 2023?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 16:29


    Many forecasters, including our own economists, are expecting a US recession in 2023, driven by the rapid and ongoing hiking cycle initiated by the US Federal Reserve as it attempts to get a grip on persistently high inflation. As the US economy slows, with housing sales down 30-35% from their peak and increasing reports of layoffs, some are questioning whether the record-setting pace of hikes is a policy mistake that will make a recession inevitable. In episode 51 of The Flip Side, Global Head of Research Jeff Meli and Global Chairman of Research Ajay Rajadhyaksha debate what's ahead for the US economy into next year.

    Will high energy prices fan the flames of recession?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 16:03


    Barclays Research is forecasting recessions in the US, the UK and Europe, driven in part by high energy prices. Will pressure from high energy costs continue to weigh on economic activity or will it ebb as growth slows?

    What's behind the recent UK market turmoil?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 13:31


    After the new UK government's ‘mini-budget' was announced, select UK markets slumped. In episode 49 of The Flip Side, Barclays Research analysts debate whether new fiscal policies or other market forces were the trigger.

    Is this a make-or-break moment for ESG investing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 16:30


    ESG investors face rising challenges to implement effective strategies due to increasing complexity and a lack of uniform standards. Our Research analysts debate how ESG investing may evolve in episode 48 of The Flip Side.

    Is a new era of instability ahead?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 13:02


    Global economies are facing volatility and uncertainty after nearly 30 years of relative stability. Our analysts debate whether it's the end of an economic era.

    Are consumers pulling back?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 10:07


    Consumer spending has been a bright spot amidst a range of shocks to the economy, but will they continue to spend? Our analysts debate.

    As the private credit market grows will the risks increase?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 15:23


    Given the rapid growth of the private credit market, Research analysts Jeff Meli and Brad Rogoff debate the tradeoffs issuers and investors may face and whether the benefits outweigh the risks for both - and the wider economy.

    Should corporate purpose shift from shareholder to stakeholder?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 30:01


    Government, social and corporate forces are converging to redefine corporate purpose. Listen to Global Head of Research Jeff Meli and Professor James C. Spindler discuss the case for and against stakeholder capitalism.

    Will the Russia-Ukraine conflict trigger a global recession?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022 15:21


    The Russia-Ukraine conflict has far-reaching implications for markets and economies. Our Research analysts debate whether a global recession is among them.

    Is more or less volatility ahead for US equity markets?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 15:53


    January was a volatile month for US equities. In this episode, our Research analysts debate whether this trend will persist in the weeks and months ahead.

    Has the Fed fallen behind the curve on inflation?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 18:47


    The US Federal Reserve recently turned hawkish on inflation. Our Research analysts debate whether economic conditions justify the shift.

    Will COVID-19 pills be a game changer for the economy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 14:33


    Oral anti-viral COVID-19 treatments have performed well in clinical trials, and approval for use is expected soon. What does this mean for the global economy?

    Is the US ready for a carbon tax?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 20:45


    Economists view a carbon tax as an effective solution to lower emissions, yet the United States has not implemented one. Has the time come? Jeff Meli and MIT Professor Deborah J. Lucas discuss.

    Will US investment in human infrastructure drive economic growth?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 22:48


    The US Congress is negotiating a multi-trillion dollar spending bill to invest huge sums in human infrastructure. But will doing so deliver economic returns?

    China's regulatory reforms: Warranted, or a step too far?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2021 11:37


    Regulatory changes in China are affecting industries and global markets. Research analysts Ajay Rajadhyaksha and Avanti Save debate the policies' merits and motivations.

    Are corporate bond valuations disconnected from fundamentals?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2021 18:16


    Barclays Research analysts Jeff Meli and Brad Rogoff debate whether near record high corporate bond valuations have come unmoored from market fundamentals.

    Is rising inflation here to stay?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2021 15:59


    Research analysts Jeff Meli and Ajay Rajadhyaksha debate whether the recent spike in US inflation data is a temporary blip or poses a sustained threat.

    Is the US infrastructure bill worth its high price tag?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 20:31


    Research analysts Jeff Meli and Jonathan Millar debate the necessity and merits of the US administration's proposed $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan.

    Are financial assets headed into bubble territory?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 15:25


    Research analysts Jeff Meli and Ajay Rajadhyaksha debate which financial assets are becoming bubbles that investors should be wary of now.

    Will retail investors continue to upend the stock market?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 16:06


    Jeff Meli and Ryan Preclaw debate the long-term implications of recent retail trading on the stock market, ranging from portfolio strategies to regulation.

    Will COVID hurt or help long-term growth?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2020 17:43


    As 2020 comes to a close, Barclays Research analysts Jeff Meli and Christian Keller debate about the prospects for short- and long-term economic growth post-COVID.

    Does the US need another round of fiscal stimulus?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2020 17:40


    In the latest episode of The Flip Side, Head of Research, Jeff Meli, and Head of Macro Research, Ajay Rajadhyaksha, discuss whether factors such as the distribution of the recovery to date, the appetite for increasing national debt and the looming possibility of a vaccine warrant further fiscal stimulus to bolster economic recovery in the US.

    Should the US government play such an outsized role in housing finance?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2020 26:10


    Head of Research Jeff Meli and MIT Finance Professor Deborah Lucas debate whether the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are necessary for a smoothly functioning US mortgage market.

    Will the dominance of megacities survive COVID-19?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 16:26


    The pandemic has highlighted numerous risks to living and working in megacities around the world and now calls into question whether the long-term trend toward urbanization will be reversed. Should this trend come to fruition, there could be profound effects not just on corporate real estate, but on residential too, as the relationship between workers and their office locations is reconsidered.

    Will ESG investing be a force for positive change?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2020 21:23


    Jeff Meli and Zoso Davies debate whether the lack of uniformity in ESG scoring is limiting the impact that investors intend to have in transforming companies' operations to be more sustainable and improving societal outcomes.

    Navigating the Virus Economy: How much will COVID-19 change the global economy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2020 23:00


    Barclays Global Head of Research Jeff Meli and Global Head of Economics Research Christian Keller debate the longer term, lasting effects of the pandemic on the global economy - from de-globalisation, to mobility and agglomeration and the rising dominance of market power in some industries. For more insights: barclays.com/ib

    Navigating the Virus Economy: Is the stock market too optimistic?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2020 25:47


    Special guest economist Professor Robert Shiller joins Barclays Head of Research Jeff Meli to debate whether equity markets are overvalued and what role long-term investing should play during a crisis. For more insights: barclays.com/ib

    Navigating the Virus Economy: Is inflation or deflation ahead?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2020 23:07


    Barclays Head of Research Jeff Meli and Head of FX & EM Macro Strategy Marvin Barth debate whether to expect inflation or deflation in the recovery period after lockdowns are lifted. For more insights from our experts: barclays.com/ib

    Navigating the virus economy: Will the global recovery be a quick bounce or slow grind?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2020 19:51


    Barclays Head of Research Jeff Meli and Head of Economics Research Christian Keller debate between about how long it may take for government interventions to be effective in restarting the global economic engine.

    Navigating the Virus Economy: Will the euphoria in credit markets last?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2020 17:17


    Barclays Research analysts Jeff Meli and Brad Rogoff debate about whether the credit rally will last and how effective the US government's support facilities will be. For more insights from our experts: barclays.com/ib.

    Navigating the Virus Economy: Will the CARES Act stimulus package save the US economy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2020 17:03


    Barclays Head of Research Jeff Meli and Chief US Economist Michael Gapen discuss the most important provisions of the CARES Act and debate whether the plan will provide enough near-term stimulus to individuals, small businesses and large corporations to save the US economy. For more insights from our experts: barclays.com/ib

    Navigating the Virus Economy: Credit markets under pressure – are they about to crack?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2020 19:28


    Barclays Research analysts Jeff Meli and Brad Rogoff debate whether recent stresses in short-dated credit markets, in conjunction with severe downgrades of companies from investment grade to high yield, could cause credit markets to crack? For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    Will the coronavirus pandemic tip the world into a recession?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 22:20


    Jeff Meli, Barclays Head of Research, and Ajay Rajadhyaksha, Barclays Head of Macro Research, debate to what extent the economic risks posed by the coronavirus will affect global markets and whether the disruption will be enough to cause a global recession. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    Planes, politics & viruses: Emerging risks to US growth?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 20:28


    Jeff Meli, Barclays Head of Research, and Michael Gapen, Barclays Head of US Economics Research, debate the degree to which new risks – the issues at Boeing with the 737 Max, the rise of the Novel Coronavirus and the inherent uncertainty of the US presidential nomination process – may affect the US growth outlook and business confidence. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    Are the stars aligning for the UK to thrive after Brexit?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2020 18:10


    Marvin Barth, Head of FX & EM Marco Research, and Fabrice Montagné, Chief UK Economist, debate whether a weakened global economy, geopolitical shifts, and the UK's technological prowess are combining to offer a more favorable backdrop for Brexit negotiations ahead. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    Is regulation the problem or solution to address repo market volatility?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2019 20:24


    Jeff Meli, Barclays Head of Research, and Ajay Rajadhyaksha, Barclays Head of Macro Research, debate whether enhanced regulation of the banking system contributed to volatility in the repo market. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    Do negative interest rates help or hinder the economy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2019 17:09


    In an effort to spur growth, central banks in Europe and Japan have kept interest rates negative for years. Barclays analysts Jeff Meli and Zoso Davies debate whether or not this monetary policy is working. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    Alternative meat - The future of food or just a fad?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2019 15:59


    Jeff Meli, Barclays Head of Research, and Ben Theurer, Barclays Head of Latin American Equity Research and Americas Agribusiness analyst, debate whether alternative meat will be a real game changer for the food and meat industries, or just another fringe product that will fade over time. The analysts also weigh in on factors driving the adoption of alternative meat products, such as taste, health benefits and environmental impact. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    Can the world be less reliant on oil?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2019 14:30


    Global oil demand currently stands at an all-time high. Barclays Research analysts debate whether innovation and regulation can transition the world to a low carbon economy quickly enough to stem climate change. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    US Fed rate cut - wise economic decision or untimely mistake?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2019 19:11


    Barclays Head of Research Jeff Meli and Chief US Economist Michael Gapen debate the merits of the Fed's July 2019 rate cut on the latest episode of The Flip Side. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    Goodbye globalisation, hello automation: Time to rethink emerging markets?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2019 15:49


    Technology has been a catalyst of globalisation in many emerging market economies. But could those tech advances now threaten EM development & related investment strategies? Barclays Research analysts Marvin Barth and Andreas Kolbe debate. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

    Does the US-China trade war pose a material risk to the US economy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2019 17:45


    Trade tensions between the US & China continue to rise. Barclays Research analysts Jeff Meli and Ajay Rajadhyaksha debate what's at stake on this episode of The Flip Side. For more insights from our experts: https://barclays.com/ib

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