Podcast appearances and mentions of Duncan Weldon

Reform UK gets a lot of coverage but not enough scrutiny. Say Nigel Farage did become Prime Minister (God forbid), what would a Reform UK-led UK look like? Is their manifesto (… sorry, ‘contract') full to the brim of wishful thinking? Plus, with changes inbound on the two-child benefit cap and winter fuel payments is Labour sorting its act out? Or does this make Starmer look weak? Paul Nowak is the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress and joins the podcast to give his thoughts. And in the Extra Bit for subscribers following the death of BBC arts titan Alan Yentob, we ask: Is the dream of culture for the masses still alive?  • Read Sam Freedman's Substack here: https://samf.substack.com/p/what-would-a-reform-government-be • Listen to The Bunker including Duncan Weldon on the economics of war. • Don't miss the latest edition of Crime Scene on the Liverpool parade car collision and what it means for policing. ESCAPE ROUTES • Paul recommends Bruce Springsteen live and Race Across The World on BBC iPlayer.  • Matt saw Mary Poppins at the Bradford Alhambra. • Rachel recommends listening to Magic At The Musicals on RadioPlayer.  • Dorian recommends Gang Of Three (keep an eye out in case in gets a transfer) and Electric Dreams at Tate Modern. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Dorian Lynskey with Rachel Cunliffe and Matt Green. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio Production by: Robin Leeburn. Music by Cornershop. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did getting pillaged by Vikings ultimately help the economies of the Middle Ages? How did a flood of silver from conquered South America end up making Spain poorer? Was Genghis Khan the father of globalisation? And why was it a terrible idea to garland Luftwaffe fighter aces with medals and fame? In an absorbing new book Blood and Treasure: The Economics of Conflict from the Vikings to Ukraine, economist and historian Duncan Weldon explains how war shapes economies and economies shape wars… and why the consequences are usually what nobody expects.  • Pre-order Blood and Treasure through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Support us on Patreon for early episodes and more. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker to get your £100 sponsored credit.   Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Tom Taylor and Dom Delargy. Produced by Liam Tait. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk [[ LINK https://www.podmasters.co.uk/ ]] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Genghis Khan reshaped the world with brutal force and brilliant organisation. He began life in exile and rose to be a powerful nomadic warrior who united the disparate Mongol tribes to create the largest contiguous empire in history. Dan is joined by economic historian Duncan Weldon to explain how his empire revolutionised global trade via the Silk Road and changed the tactics of global warfare for centuries to come. They discuss how he unified vast territories with a common legal code, developed a pioneering communication system, connected East and West and laid the groundwork for the eventual industrial revolution.Duncan's new book is called 'Blood and Treasure: The Economics of Conflict from the Vikings to Ukraine.'Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal PatmoreSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on.You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

As Donald Trump pauses his trade war (well, except in the case of China) the podcast team are joined by economist and author Duncan Weldon to make sense of the president's wild economic rollercoaster ride – and the uncomfortable choices it means for Keir Starmer. The PM and his team have some levers to pull, and this week they eached for a familiar one labelled ‘Quango Bonfire'. So what has been announced, and will it work? Plus: What does the government want to do about immigration? A white paper is on the way. But an IfG paper is out now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yesterday the US president Donald Trump unveiled his plans for his long trailed tariff liberation day. After a lengthy ‘speech' about the cost of eggs and why the rest of the world wont buy American chicken and beef, Trump unveiled the quote unquote reciprocal tariffs the US will impose in the coming week.So do the figures add up? And what will these tariffs mean for the UK and for the global economy?Andrew Marr is joined by economist and journalist Duncan Weldon.Read more from Duncan WeldonSign up to the New Statesman's daily politics newsletter: Morning Call Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1976, the Labour government went "cap in hand" to the IMF for a loan to tide it through deteriorating economic conditions. The price was large cuts in public spending. Neil and Jonathan talk to economist and author Duncan Weldon about the "bailout", what caused it, the changes it brought, and whether there are any parallels to the predicament faced by Rachel Reeves.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Duncan Weldon.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with a brand new name but the same doughty, never-say-die attitude, to watch the war movies that made us the men* we are today. Every week authors Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon gather under the blackout curtain to view a classic war film – and now they're joined by equally battle-fixated chums too. This time on the podcast formerly known as A Pod Too Far: Darryl F. Zanuck's 1962 D-Day mega-epic The Longest Day with comedian, WWII buff and tank fan Al Murray. What are the best bits? Did your favourite moments really happen? Would you want to be commanded by ‘Pine Coffin'? And how much did John Wayne demand to appear in it? Up the Ox and Bucks! * and occasionally women Written and presented by Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Simon Williams. Art by Jim Parrett. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. War Movie Theatre is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If it's December 1941 in the podcast, what time is it in New York? Rob Hutton sticks his neck out for no one. Duncan Weldon's killed two German couriers in an effort to impress him. But of all the gin joints in all the world, who's this walking into theirs? For our Christmas special, we're joined by the journalist and author Hadley Freeman as we watch Casablanca, a war movie disguised as a romance. But who's Humphrey Bogart's real love interest - Ingrid Bergman or Claude Rains? And what's it like to see the film through the eyes of a refugee? A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Christmas 1944, and Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon are in a muddy, frozen POW camp, dreaming of Betty Grable. But is one of them a rat? We're watching Billy Wilder's Stalag 17, the film that won William Holden an Oscar and may have inspired the sitcom Hogan's Heroes. Comedy? Drama? Escape movie? Or a mix of all three? A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon are fighting seasickness and dodging torpedoes as they take the podcast on a submarine hunt. We're watching the 1953 classic The Cruel Sea, a frank picture of the terror and exhaustion of convoy duty, and the toll it took on the men and women of the Navy. Was Donald Sinden ever better, and did Jack Hawkins organise the worst pub quiz ever? A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's 1944, and Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon are trying to take the podcast 750 miles through the Burmese jungle for reasons that no one can really explain to them. This week we're watching the 1962 movie Merrill's Marauders, the tale of a heroic American unit going through hell. Who will win Best Death? Who won't?! A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's 1916, and Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon have failed to capture an impossible target in the trenches of France. One of them must now be shot for cowardice, but who? (Duncan, obviously.) We're watching Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece Paths of Glory. But is it a war movie or a courtroom drama, or is it really a film about office life? A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's 1815, and Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon have liberated the podcast from Elba in a final bid for glory. But first they must face the Duke of Wellington. With Ridley Scott's Napoleon in the cinemas, we've wheeled the TV into the classroom to watch Waterloo. Has there ever been a better movie of cavalry charges? Does any of the first hour matter? And just how many Soviet soldiers were involved in making it? A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's 1943, and Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon have realised that the only way to save their podcast is to blow up a dam in Yugoslavia. It's time for Force 10 From Navarone, the first war movie Rob can remember watching. Does any part of it make sense? Any part of it at all? And could Harrison Ford find a single nice thing to say about it? A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's late 1944, and as the Allies advance through France, Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon have spotted a lucrative business opportunity. There's a bank vault full of podcasts for the taking. The only problem is that it's 30 miles behind enemy lines. This week, we're talking about Kelly's Heroes. Is it based on a true story? Was a Tiger tank really a piece of junk? And did anyone tell Clint Eastwood he was in a comedy? A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. https://twitter.com/PodTooFar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's 1945, and as the war draws to a close, Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon are just trying to stay alive in a Japanese POW camp by trading pieces of the podcast for food. We're watching King Rat, the 1965 film based on James Clavell's novel-memoir about his own years in a camp. It's a film about hunger, class, desperation and survival, but it's also a key moment in the James Donald Extended Universe. Ultimately, is it Not Bad, or Bloody Marvellous? A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. https://twitter.com/PodTooFar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 1942. Tobruk has fallen, Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon struggle to get their podcast back through the desert to Alexandria where a barman is keeping a chilled bottle of Carlsberg for them. This week, we're watching Ice Cold In Alex, undoubtedly the best movie ever to be used as a beer commercial. Did Sylvia Syms ever have a better role? Has there been a worse spy than Anthony Quayle? And does anyone know where we can find a copy of the butchered American version? A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production and sound design by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. https://twitter.com/PodTooFar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 1940, and the podcast stands alone, facing a Nazi horde just across the Channel. A Pod Too Far returns with a new series, and this week, Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon are joined by historian James Holland in his trusty Spitfire as they watch 1969's Battle of Britain. Is it simply a series of brilliant aerial sequences mashed together with some composite characters? What's the real claim to fame of the beach that plays Dunkirk? And would it be worse to be married to Christopher Plummer or Susannah York? Never in the field of human podcasting have so many movie memes been discussed by so few. A Pod Too Far was written and presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Audio production and sound design by Simon Williams. Artwork by James Parret. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. A Pod Too Far is a Podmasters production. https://twitter.com/PodTooFar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liz Truss is the Lady Jane Grey of British politics, lasting just 49 days as PM before swirling economic chaos swept her from office. But a year on, has Britain dusted itself off and rebuilt - or are we still picking through the ruins? Neil and Jonathan talk to economic historian Duncan Weldon about Truss's economic and political legacy, Sunak's problems and the still unanswered question of how to get more economic growth.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Duncan Weldon.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.In association with Briefcase.News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank sent jitters through the financial system, Duncan Weldon explains how it's just the latest in the long history of bank runs. He talks to financial analyst and former banking regulator Dan Davies - author of ‘Lying for Money' - to understand how bank runs happen, and what the repercussions of this very modern bank run might be for the global financial system. Presenter: Duncan Weldon Producer: Nathan Gower Editor: Richard Vadon Programme Coordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross Sound Engineer: Neva Missirian (Photo credit: Reuters)

Duncan Weldon is an economist, author, and all round excellent communicator. He appeared on an earlier episode about London's crazy post-pandemic rents, but I also sat him down for a conversation about the politics and economics of the housing market more generally. We discussed how house prices got so high, whether more supply would solve the rental crisis, the politics of the YIMBY movement & what to make of Michael Gove. To support the podcast and access all episodes in this series - and all future ones - sign up at patreon.com/crashcoursepodProduction & Editing: Lewis Bassett & Patrick HeardmanSound Design: Patrick Heardman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Rob and Duncan are washing up on the shores of Spain with The Man Who Never Was! This 1956 spy thriller is the first cinematic telling of the story of Operation Mincemeat – popularised, of late, in a Ben Macintyre book and a subsequent movie version – and starred Clifton Webb and Gloria Grahame. What was the best death in a film about a corpse? What was Noël Coward's epitaph for Clifford Webb's mother? And it's Rob's turn to decide whether this was the operation that changed the course of the war... NB: This is the final episode of SEASON ONE of A Pod Too Far. We are now looking for a funding partner to keep the show on the road. Email nick@podotpods.com to discuss anything related to the show. Presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Rob and Duncan are marching through Europe, led by a certifiable madman. It's Patton! Franklin J. Shaffner's 1970 film (from a Francis Ford Coppola script) won George C. Scott an Oscar for his portrayal of the WWII general (an Oscar that he turned down) but how much did Richard Nixon like this film? How much did Patton hate Montie? And, finally, have be arrived at the operation that changed the course of the war?? Presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Produced and edited by Podot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Rob and Duncan are venturing out with twelve of the nastiest sods the Allies had to offer – it's The Dirty Dozen. This 1967 film, directed by Robert Aldrich and adapted from E.M.Nathanson's novel, featured an all-star cast playing a squadron of death row reprobates sent to bomb a chateau full of Nazi generals (an inspiration for later films like Inglourious Basterds and The Suicide Squad). Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and Donald Sutherland all star in this, A Pod Too Far's first properly American film! Presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Produced and edited by Podot. This is a Podot podcast: for sales an advertising, email nick@podotpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Rob and Duncan are telling the story of a ship... or, at least, the story of Noël Coward's story of a ship. It's In Which We Serve! Directed by Coward and David Lean (shipped in, no pun intended, for the action sequences) and starring Coward, John Mills, Bernard Miles, Celia Johnson and Richard Attenborough, this 1942 movie (yes, the war is still raging) tells what was then a very fresh story of the 1941 exploits of Lord Louis Mountbatten (here referred to as Captain Kinross) and the HMS Torrin. A good film? A good ship? And did this change the course of the war? Presented by Duncan Weldon and Robert Hutton. Executive produced by Nick Hilton for Podot. Produced by Ewan Cameron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, Rob and Duncan are hobnobbing with stars including Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall for The Eagle Has Landed! Based on the 1975 novel by Jack Higgins (and released only a year later) John Sturges' film tells the story of a fiendish German plot to kidnap Winston Churchill. Michael Caine is a German! Donald Sutherland is an Irishman! The whole world is topsy-turvy: but, crucially, was this the operation that changed the course of the war? Presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Executive produced by Nick Hilton for Podot. Produced and edited by Ewan Cameron. For sales and advertising, please visit podotpods.com or email nick@podotpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Rob and Duncan are fighting back against the ruthless German paratroopers with the 1942 (yes, mid-war) film, Went the Day Well? Directed by Alberto Cavalcanti and adapted from a Graham Greene story, this is Ealing Studios at its war propaganda finest. Leslie Banks, Mervyn Johns and Basil Sydney both star *and* offer viewers the greatest array of 1940s men's names ever assembled on screen. Presented by Duncan Weldon and Robert Hutton. Executive produced by Nick Hilton for Podot. Produced by Ewan Cameron. For sales and advertising please contact nick@podotpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Dunn, the New Statesman's business editor, is joined by the journalist and former political adviser Duncan Weldon to discuss how Britain is facing a decline like never before. They talk about the country's long history of economic woe and what we can learn from it, why we are feeling the current crisis more acutely than our neighbours, and if this calls for big ideas or – as Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng attempted in their disastrous mini-Budget – suffers from them.If you've got a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskus Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Rob and Duncan are off to Argentina, a strange, exotic land where the only thing they talk about more than Lionel Messi, is the 1956 movie The Battle of the River Plate (known to our American listeners as Pursuit of the Graf Spee). Is this the only film in history where battleships are given full acting credits? Does it have the nicest of all the Nazis? And – crucially – is this the operation that changed the course of the war? Presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Executive produced by Nick Hilton. Edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot. This is a Podot podcast. For sales and advertising please visit podotpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Rob and Duncan are flying in low and back to 1955 for The Dam Busters! The true story of Guy Gibson, Barnes Wallis and the famous bouncing bomb – brought to life by director Michael Anderson and a cast including Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave. How did The Dam Busters inspire Star Wars? Were the men in suits the real antagonists? And did they really have to keep saying the dog's name?! Presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Executive produced by Nick Hilton for Podot. Produced by Ewan Cameron. This is a Podot podcast. For sales and advertising visit podotpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of A Pod Too Far, Rob and Duncan are going to Greece for The Guns of Navarone! J. Lee Thompson's 1961 thriller, loosely set around the Dodecanese campaign and the fictional German fortress on the island of Navarone, brought together an all-star cast including Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn, Richard Harris and Stanley Baker. So, how big were these big guns? Why were the radio codes so damn obvious? And was this the operation that changed the course of the war? A Pod Too Far is presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Executive produced by Nick Hilton for Podot. Production by Ewan Cameron. For sales and advertising email nick@podotpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ho ho ho! It's Christmas, and what is more festive and merry than The Great Escape? A perennial Boxing Day favourite (except for Rob, who was forced on family walks), John Sturges' 1963 prisoner of war caper featured one of the great ensemble casts in cinema history: Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, James Garner, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasance and many more. They were all trying to break out of Stalag Luft III – but can the film break out of the doldrums of mediocre moviemaking? Why is there an unhelpful American stuck in the cooler? How miserable was the ending in reality? And – repeat after me – is this the mission that changed the course of the war? Presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Executive produced by Nick Hilton for Podot. Edited by Ewan Cameron. This is a Podot podcast. For sales and advertising, please visit podotpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In case you've missed it, there's a World Cup going on in Qatar. And there's only one place that football and war movies collide: Escape to Victory (known to our cousins in America as just Victory!). With Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone providing the acting chops, and Pele and Bobby Moore keeping the football end up, is Escape to Victory a successful fusion of these genres? Rob and Duncan sit down to talk through the movie's highs and lows, including whether Gordon Banks could teach Sly to keep goal, if they should've bailed out at half-time, and how much John Huston was paid to direct the film... Presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Executive produced by Nick Hilton for Podot. Production by Ewan Cameron. For sales and advertising please email nick@podotpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Al and James are joined by economist and journalist Duncan Weldon for a deep dive into the money that funded the Second World War.A Goalhanger Films ProductionProduced by Joey McCarthyExec Producer: Tony PastorTwitter: #WeHaveWays @WeHaveWaysPodWebsite: wehavewayspod.comEmail: wehavewayspod@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to A Pod Too Far, where authors Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon sit down each week to rewatch a classic war movie. Today, it's the big one: Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far. The big budget depiction of Operation Market Garden – the Allied forces' failed attempt to seize the bridges at Arnhem – had one of the great casts of cinema history. Sean Connery and Anthony Hopkins, Robert Redford and Dirk Bogarde, Michael Caine, Gene Hackman, Laurence Olivier, James Caan, the list goes on. But is it actually any good as a movie? Let us know what you think by tweeting @podtoofar. Next week we're watching Escape to Victory – please watch along too if you want to be in on the action! Presented by Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon. Executive produced by Nick Hilton. Produced by Ewan Cameron. A Pod Too Far is a Podot podcast. For sales and advertising visit podotpods.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join authors Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon on their journey through the good, the bad and the ugly of old war movies – basically, anything that was on the telly during the Saturday afternoons of their youth! First episode: A Bridge Too Far (watch along in advance, or enjoy from memory!). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt reverses almost all of the mini-budget tax cuts and announces the energy support package will only apply until April. Bloomberg's Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker get reaction from London's Mayor Sadiq Khan and our reporters Lizzy Burden and Valerie Tytel. Plus: analysis from economist Duncan Weldon and the latest on polling from the Ipsos CEO Ben Page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a *Special Topical Episode* this week, as we look at whether Kwasi Kwarteng's recent mini-budget was done to specifically tank the British economy and make millions for the hedge funds. We know that Kwarteng sipped champagne with various hedge fund managers after his now infamous announcements, which begs the question, were the Tories in bed with the hedge funds all along? To help unpack this fiscal dilemma, James and Jol are joined by economist, journalist, and all round clever clogs Duncan Weldon, formerly of The Bank of England, The Economist, and BBC's Newsnight. And if you're confused as to why the Bank of England had to intervene to clear up the government's mess, why the markets completely lost faith in Kwarteng's vision, or why the British economy has become 'The Vibes Economy', then this is the episode for you. Duncan's book ‘Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through: The surprising story of Britain's economy from boom to bust and back again' is out now, and you can subscribe to his ‘Value Added' Substack now. Once a week with us not enough? Join us in the Tier 4 Platinum circle. Subscribers to Tier 4 Platinum circle will get an extra episode every week, where we'll be discussing new developments in the world of conspiracies, extended tangents and subscribers get the exclusive opportunity to get in touch and tell us what we've got wrong. Plus, subscribers get all episodes of the show completely ad-free. Visit the New Conspiracist show page on Apple Podcasts and hit ‘try free' at the top of the page to start your free trial. A Somethin' Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the cost of debt rising and the pound still falling, just how much damage has the Conservatives' mini-Budget done to the economy?To unpick what's going on, Anoosh Chakelian is joined by David Gauke, who was work and pensions secretary and chief secretary to the Treasury under Theresa May, and by the economist and author Duncan Weldon, along with the New Statesman's business editor, Will Dunn.They discuss why the markets reacted so badly to the Chancellor's statement on 23 September, what the subsequent Bank of England intervention actually did, and what the impact of all of this might be on ordinary voters as well as the electoral prospects of the Tory party.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has rejected calls to abandon its mini-budget despite the Bank of England having to step in, in an unprecedented move, amid market turmoil. Adam is joined by Chris, Simon Jack, the FT's Gillian Tett and author Duncan Weldon to help us understand the economics, politics and history behind what's going on. This episode of Newscast was made by Tim Walklate with Miranda Slade and Chris Flynn. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.

In the final episode on Britain's 1992 currency crisis, Neil and Jonathan look at the consequences of Black Wednesday with Jonathan Portes, Sir Paul Tucker, both of whom had ringside seats in the Treasury and Bank of England respectively, and economic historian Duncan Weldon.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Duncan Weldon and Jonathan Portes.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Additional editing by Ewan Cameron.Sponsored by Briefcase.News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 16 September 1992, after an "extremely difficult and turbulent day", sterling was driven out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism, shattering the central economic policy of John Major's government and arguably setting Britain on a path to the fringes of, and ultimately the exit from, the European Union. In the first of a three-part series, Neil and Jonathan look back on the run up to the crisis with Jonathan Portes, Sir Paul Tucker, both of whom had ringside seats in the Treasury and Bank of England respectively, and economic historian Duncan Weldon.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Sir Paul Tucker, Jonathan Portes, and Duncan Weldon.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Additional editing by Ewan Cameron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hours before the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Derek talked to Duncan Weldon, the Britain economics correspondent at The Economist, about the UK's political and economic challenge. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sent energy prices soaring across Europe, but few countries have it worse than the UK, where inflation skyrocketed past 10 percent and the Bank of England projects a deep and lasting recession. This comes after a 15-year period of utter economic stagnation, Brexit, and the clown show of Boris Johnson. How did the UK, the birthplace of modern capitalism and the industrial revolution, become such an economic and political disaster? And will the queen's death affect the nation's trajectory? If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. You can find us on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@plainenglish_ Host: Derek Thompson Guest: Duncan Weldon Producer: Devon Manze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the cost-of-living crisis and rapidly rising energy prices look set to push the UK into recession, how bad is the situation and what could be done about it?The economist and journalist Duncan Weldon speaks to Will Dunn, the New Statesman's business editor, about just how serious the crisis is, how it compares to the 1970s and why Liz Truss will find that tax cuts just won't cut it. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the fight on NATO's border has intensified, the West's response has been to make war with Russia - economic war. Sanctions, not bombs, have been the weapon chosen to take on the Putin regime and Western leaders have devised ever more elaborate tortures for the Rouble. In light of diminishing appetite for war and financial inducements over the past century, trade and financial sanctions have increasingly become the preferred tool of statecraft employed by countries around the world. But how effective are they? Author and columnist for The Economist, Duncan Weldon, explores the strengths and weaknesses of economic sanctions. Looking at historical uses over the past 100 years, Duncan examines to what extent and in what scenarios they achieve foreign policy aims. He also reflects on the unintended consequences and the impact on economies. And he considers what the sanctions against Russia, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, mean for the global economy and the future geopolitical landscape. With Daniel Dresner, Professor of international politics at the Fletcher school of law and diplomacy at Tufts University; Dr Erica Moret, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Global Governance and Humanitarian Studies at the Graduate Institute, Geneva; Nathanael Tilahun, a lawyer and Professor of International Law at University of Coventry specialising in sanctions, security and financial crime; Macroeconomist Rachel Ziemba, founder of Ziemba Insights and adjunct senior fellow at The Center for A New American Security in Washington; and Taban Osman, a Kurdish Iraqi, actor and singer from Sulemani in northern Iraq. Presenter: Duncan Weldon Producer: Jac Phillimore Sound Design and Mix: Rob Speight Executive Producer: Katherine Godfrey A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

In this week's 'News Roundtable' episode, host Chris Wright joins journalist, broadcaster and writer, Chris Morris, chair of 'Save British Food', Liz Webster, journalist, former political advisor, economist and writer, Duncan Weldon, and journalist, writer and broadcaster, Christina Patterson.First, the panel discuss the pledges of Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to cut taxes - have they found the magic money tree? They compare the two plans, contemplating how this will affect demand in the economy and how inflation will influence the average household's true disposable income in Britain.The conversation moves on to debating the record-breaking profits from energy giants BP and Shell. They question how the public will deal with the rising energy costs during the winter - will people need to choose between heating or eating? Economist Duncan Weldon provides an insight into how the energy giants can record such profits while energy bills are soaring. Together, the panel looks to the future of what life could look like for the average household in the next year and debates what Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak could do to try and solve the cost of living crisis.All this and much more debated on this week's Wright on the Nail!Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at www.wrightonthenail.FM

The Tory leadership contest has been badged as a "battle of economic ideas" between "prudent" Rishi Sunak and "go for growth" Liz Truss. But what exactly are these ideas, where do they come from, and how relevant are they to Britain's current situation? Neil and Jonathan talk to economic historian Duncan Weldon about the contenders' plans to put Britain back on track.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Duncan Weldon.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sponsored by Briefcase.News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What more should the government do to tackle the inflation crisis? In a week where the Bank of England raised rates to a 13-year high, Bloomberg's Lizzy Burden briefs Caroline Hepker and Stephen Carroll on the challenges facing Andrew Bailey and Rishi Sunak. We examine the current and historical context for the tight spot the UK economy is in with journalist and author Duncan Weldon, and Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Javier Blas. Plus: Data Minister Julia Lopez discusses a new bill which overhauls data protection rules and cookie consent pop-ups.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gripped by sluggish growth and low investment, the UK decides to solve its problems by embarking on a "dash for growth" - spending big and cutting taxes. We talk to economic historian Duncan Weldon about the Heath government's disastrous 1972 "Barber Boom" (named for the chancellor Tony Barber) and what lessons it holds for Boris Johnson's wayward administration.Presented by Jonathan Ford and Neil Collins.With Duncan Weldon.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sponsored by Briefcase.News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some recent, and surprising, estimates from the World Health Organisation suggested that the UK fared better than Germany in the pandemic. But did they get it right? At Eurovision this year an algorithm was apparently used to replace whole countries' votes - was it responsible for the UK's second-place finish? The global economy has been putting the squeeze on many of us this year. Various factors have caused food, fuel and energy prices to rocket and many households are starting to feel the pinch. We speak to economist Duncan Weldon about whether this year is the worst hit to the cost of living since records began. An unusually large contingent of children are set to hit English secondary schools just as the number of 21 year olds dips – so are we heading for a teaching crunch in England? Produced in partnership with The Open University.

In this week's ‘News Roundtable' episode, host Chris Wright is joined by Dawn-Maria France, editor-in-chief at Yorkshire Women's Life; Duncan Weldon, an economist and writer; and John Inverdale, a broadcaster who presented coverage of many major sporting events including the Olympic Games and Wimbledon.The episode begins by analysing the UK's response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, to discuss whether the Home Office is failing Ukrainian refugees with the lack of forward planning, and the impact of a Nationality and Borders Bill on Ukrainians who are making their way into the UK.The conversation moves on to discuss whether the UK government has shown true leadership, and the British public's perception of the handling of the crisis, with polling showing huge support for the UK to grant visas to Ukrainian refugees.Together they also discuss the impact of sanctions on Russian oligarchs, and Roman Abramovich: What do the Russian owner's sanctions mean for Chelsea Football Club?Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.wrightonthenail.fm

I talked to Duncan Weldon a former Britain economics correspondent for The Economist and the writer of the substack Value Added. We talked about his book Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through. Topics include How did the road to riches change through centuries? Why does Britain have no tech giants? How did Britain survive with high levels of debt in the past? Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in Britain and not elsewhere? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/pradyumna-sp/message

Inflation is at a 30 year high. David Aaronovitch looks back to the 1970s when prices - and wages - soared. Are we returning to those times and how worried should we be? Joining him in The Briefing Room are: Stephanie Flanders, Head of Bloomberg Economics. Merryn Somerset Webb, editor-in-chief, Moneyweek. Torsten Bell, chief executive, The Resolution Foundation. Duncan Weldon, economist and author of "Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through" and "The Value Added Newsletter". Producers: Kirsteen Knight, Ben Henderson and Rosamund Jones Studio manager: Neil Churchill Production co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed Editor: Richard Vadon

In this episode of the Brexit and Beyond podcast, Duncan Weldon, former economics correspondent at The Economist and now writer at the Value Added Newsletter, talks to host Anand Menon about inequality, leveling up and his new book ‘Two hundred years of muddling through'.

Leading economist Duncan Weldon once again joins The Other Hand to discuss the issues of the day.In his own recent substack post Duncan noted that an ex-Chief Economist of the Bank of England recently stated that ‘economists have no general theory of inflation’. When you think about it, that’s quite a statement.The UK budget revealed another shape-shift for the Tory party. A Chancellor who believes borrowing is ‘immoral’ nevertheless wants to spend a lot of borrowed money. And is raising taxes. Subscribe at cjpeconomics.substack.com

In this episode, MEI Deputy Director, Dr Colm Murphy, was joined by Professor Helen Thompson and the economist, author, and journalist Duncan Weldon. They discuss what inflation is, why it has returned to the centre of political debate, whether it is a governing priority or a red herring, and its implications for politics and wider society.

Leading economist Duncan Weldon joins Chris in conversation about how tax revenues are giving finance ministers in Ireland and the UK much more room for manoeuvre - for now at least. Is the the UK government setting itself up for stringency now to be followed by pre-election giveaways? The British have a strange attitude towards financing de-carbonisation.The state of economic journalism. Modern economics: what message does the recent Nobel prize send? Subscribe at cjpeconomics.substack.com

Duncan Weldon, UK Economics Correspondent for the The Economist, joins us to discuss his new book looking at the political economy of Britain from the industrial revolution to the pandemic.Don't forget to like and subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

We ignore history. Policymakers certainly do. But there is very little new under the sun. Duncan Weldon reminds us that we ignore history at our peril. And peril is where we are at. There is so much in this unusually readable book. ‘Levelling up’ is at least a century old, despite Boris Johnson taking credit for its invention. Want to know what some of today’s Trump-Johnson-Orban leaders resemble Mafia Dons? Take a look at history: we are more often ruled by kleptocrats than democrats. Jim and Chris have an enjoyable, longer than usual, but highly entertaining chat with Duncan Weldon about his new book, ‘Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through. The Surprising Story of the British Economy’. You will be surprised! Subscribe at cjpeconomics.substack.com

It's not an exaggeration to say that the whole of human history can be divided into two parts: before the Industrial Revolution, and after. Economist Duncan Weldon joins me to talk about the Industrial Revolution, why it started in Britain, and the trajectory of the British economy over the past two centuries. Get Duncan's book, Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through, here.Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World in hardcopy, ebook, or audiobook (read by Patrick) here.Listen to new episodes 1 week early, to exclusive seasons 1 and 2, and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory.Support us by supporting our sponsors! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The industrial revolution began in Britain and became one of the most extraordinary economic miracles in human history but the next two centuries have seen many booms and busts and have been more to do with improvisation than planning. But, how should we think about Britain's economy, how did we get to where we are today and is Britain an overachiever or underachiever economically? To help answer these questions and drill down into details of our economic history Dan is joined by Duncan Weldon. Duncan is economics correspondent of the Economist and has recently published his new book Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through: The surprising story of Britain's economy from boom to bust and back again. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The industrial revolution began in Britain and became one of the most extraordinary economic miracles in human history but the next two centuries have seen many booms and busts and have been more to do with improvisation than planning. But, how should we think about Britain's economy, how did we get to where we are today and is Britain an overachiever or underachiever economically? To help answer these questions and drill down into details of our economic history Dan is joined by Duncan Weldon. Duncan is economics correspondent of the Economist and has recently published his new book Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through: The surprising story of Britain's economy from boom to bust and back again. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why is the British economy the way it is today?That's the rather daunting exam question The Economist's Duncan Weldon sets himself in his newly released book 200 Years of Muddling Through - The surprising story of Britain's economy from boom to bust and back again.It's fair to say that Weldon succeeds in answering it with his pacy, vivid canter through the Industrial Revolution, two World Wars, post-war decline and resurgence in the 1980s, right up to the current crisis.We were delighted to get Duncan on to the podcast for a chat about the book and his reflections on the where the British economy may be heading as we recover from the Covid cataclysm. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Stephen Bush interviews economist, journalist, and author Duncan Weldon on his new book Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through. They talk through the lessons learned, and not learned from British political and economic history, whether the response to the pandemic will be a turning point in UK politics, and why writing a book is a bit like having a child.If you have a question for You Ask Us, please email Podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Duncan's new book is a “must read” look at how the British economy became the world's leader - and what went wrong thereafter…

From Clement Attlee to Margaret Thatcher, several movers and shakers have entered government with plans to fundamentally change how the British economy is run. But have they ever truly succeeded? In this week's podcast Tom Clark welcomes the Economist‘s Duncan Weldon, who argues that Britain's “hands off” approach to the economy is so ingrained it's influenced everyone, from the Treasury to trade unions.You can read Duncan's essay here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/condemned-to-be-liberal-why-britain-cant-easily-break-with-economic-laissez-faire See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The story of World War Two is usually told in terms of heroism on the battlefield, but perhaps the most important struggle was the economic battle. Across the world countries were fighting to feed their populations, maximise production from their factories and fund their armies. To mark the 80th anniversary of the start of World War Two, economist Duncan Weldon examines how the economies of the European powers, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Soviet Union, set the scene for the conduct of the war in 1939 and 1940.

Duncan Weldon's new Radio 4 Series looks at the economics of the Second World War, and crucial they were in determining the outcome of the war. He joins Dan to talk about why no participants expected France to fall so quickly, and why Norway mattered economically. For ad free versions of our entire podcast archive and hundreds of hours of history documentaries, interviews and films, signup to History Hit TV. Use code 'pod3' at checkout. Producer: Peter Curry See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Duncan Weldon's new Radio 4 Series looks at the economics of the Second World War, and crucial they were in determining the outcome of the war. He joins Dan to talk about why no participants expected France to fall so quickly, and why Norway mattered economically. For ad free versions of our entire podcast archive and hundreds of hours of history documentaries, interviews and films, signup to History Hit TV. Use code 'pod3' at checkout. Producer: Peter Curry See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s said that the only thing that goes up in falling markets is correlation. Diversification across uncorrelated assets, differentiated sources of returns, and foreign currency exposure can help provide natural risk hedges and still deliver the performance sought by investors. This week, we’re talking to members of LGIM’s Asset Allocation team about why investors need to diversify with purpose and the importance nimble asset allocation. Find out more about keeping asset allocation nimble and sign up to our live webinar on portfolio diversification (6 June) here: http://www2.landginvestments.com/staynimble •    Chris Teschmacher, Fund Manager, Asset Allocation team •    Duncan Weldon, Strategist, Asset Allocation team •    Mark Chappel, Senior Investment Writer We want to hear from you! Email us at mark.chappel@lgim.com with your thoughts on the podcast and any suggestions of the types of content you’d like to see covered. This podcast is intended for investment professionals, and shouldn’t be shared with a non-professional audience. This podcast should not be taken as an invitation to deal in Legal & General investments. Any views expressed during this recording belong to the individuals and are based on market conditions at the time of recording, and do not reflect the views of Legal & General Investment Management. Legal & General Investment Management is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Legal & General Investment Management, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA. Register in England no. 2091894. All rights reserved. No part of this audio may be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Legal & General Investment Management.

Laurence Boone, Chief Economist and G20 Finance Deputy, and Duncan Weldon, economist and writer, discuss the causes of Europe’s productivity slowdown, and whether or not it is the legacy of the economic crisis.

Voting decisions are often driven by perceptions of how well the economy is being run – but is that currently a bit problematic? In these two interviews, I take a look at whether “economic success” is being measured in the right way, and whether broadcasters are doing a good job of relaying that economic analysis […]

This week in episode 23 of the Informed Choice Podcast, we talk about election results, forgotten subscriptions and bond bubbles.     Martin starts the podcast this week by talking about his filming weekend with the GB TREC Team and the election results last week.     New research has found that people in Britain are wasting £338 million each month in unused subscription fees. Are you one of them and what steps can you take to avoid wasting money through forgotten subscriptions?     Another big finance story this week was the news that China has cut interest rates. The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) at the weekend delivered another cut to the benchmark lending and deposit rates. Both the lending and deposit rates were cut by 25 basis points, or 0.25 per cent, taking the lending rate to 5.1% and the deposit rate to 2.25%.     What does this mean for the Chinese economy and investment markets?     Martin looks at an excellent article by Duncan Weldon, BBC Newsnight economics correspondent, which explains the reasons for the sovereign bond bubble bursting. Is your investment portfolio positioned correctly?     If you listen to this podcast, please take one minute to leave an honest review on iTunes.     Reviews from listeners are so important to help others find the podcast, and we also really want your feedback so we know which elements of the show you enjoy and what we can improve. To leave a review, simply visit www.icfp.co.uk/itunes.     Martin will read out reviews at the end of each future episode, so please make sure you leave a note of your real name, so you get a mention.   If you have a personal finance or investment question you would like Martin to answer on the podcast, you can leave a voicemail for the show by following the link at icfp.co.uk/podcast. We’ll answer your question in a future episode and send you a gift to say thank you for taking part.

American economist Hyman Minsky died in 1996, but his theories offer one of the most compelling explanations of the 2008 financial crisis. His key idea is simple enough to be a t-shirt slogan: "Stability is destabilising". But TUC senior economist Duncan Weldon argues it's a radical challenge to mainstream economic theory. While the mainstream view has been that markets tend towards equilibrium and the role of banks and finance can largely be ignored, Minsky argued that in the good times the seeds of the next crisis are sown as the financial sector engages in riskier and riskier lending in pursuit of profit. In the aftermath of the financial crisis, this might seem obvious - so why did Minsky die an outsider? What do his ideas say about the response to the 2008 crisis and current policies like Help to Buy? And has mainstream economics done enough to respond to its own failure to predict the crisis and the challenge posed by Minsky's ideas? Producer: James Fletcher.

It may come as no great surprise that many of us have experienced a wage squeeze, while the cost of living has gone the other way, since the financial crisis of 2008. However, as Duncan Weldon, a senior economist at the Trades Union Congress, points out, wages for most people in the UK began stagnating years before the crisis. We tend to think of the early 2000s as a time of relative wealth: house prices were rising, credit flowed easily, the government introduced a generous tax credit scheme and people generally felt better off. But Duncan Weldon argues these masked the reality of what was going on. Work done by the think tank The Resolution Foundation, which focuses on those on low and modest incomes, shows that there was almost no wage growth in the middle and below during the five years leading up to 2008 and yet the economy grew by 11% in that period. Others also point out that the share of the national income which goes into wages, as opposed to profits, has been decreasing since the mid-1970s. The argument is that less of the economic pie is going into the pockets of ordinary workers. What is also clear is that a disproportionate amount of the economic wealth has been going to those at the top. The earnings of the richest few per cent have increased rapidly in the UK since the 1980s and that pattern accelerated in the last ten years. In the United States that process began earlier and has been more extreme. Some economists argue that this is not a problem in itself as taxation, for example, helps to re-distribute the money to the less well off or those with disadvantages. In Analysis Duncan Weldon asks why wages stopped rising in the years before the crash and what was the driving force for the squeeze?