Podcasts about social research institute

Katie Gaddini, sociologist, a visiting scholar at Stanford University, an associate professor of sociology at the Social Research Institute, University College London (UCL) and a research associate at the University of Johannesburg department of sociology, and the author of Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right (WW Norton, 2026), talks about her research into the activism of right-wing Christian women and their leadership of the political evangelical movement. Photo: PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk speaks during a Turning Point USA event at the Dream City Church on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Trump is scheduled to speak at a Turning Point USA event titled “Build the Red Wall”, intended to turn out young voters for the midterm elections. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!"I don't think that we have any solid evidence of a religious revival underway in England, or for that matter, anywhere else." — David VoasIn April 2025, the Bible Society published a report claiming church attendance in England had surged by more than 50% since 2018, with young men's churchgoing up fivefold. It made national headlines. A year later, both YouGov and the Bible Society retracted it. This episode unpacks what actually went wrong: bots and bogus respondents in online survey panels, why the data never supported the story, and what decades of solid evidence tell us instead about religious decline in Britain.Our guest is Dr. David Voas, Emeritus Professor of Social Science at UCL, where he led the Social Research Institute from 2016 to 2020. A quantitative social scientist, he has spent his career studying religious change in modern societies, and his TEDx talk, "Why There Is No Way Back for Religion in the West," has been viewed nearly two million times.In this conversation we cover:How AI chatbots, survey farming and bogus respondents undermined the survey data, and why this is an industry-wide problem, not a one-offThe three ways sociologists actually measure religiosity — identity, practice and belief — and why they don't always move togetherWhy secularisation is a generational process that plays out over centuries, and what fills the space religion leaves behindLINKS & REFERENCESDavid VoasUCL profile: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/56605-david-voasTEDx talk, "Why There Is No Way Back for Religion in the West": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtAR_OGzlcg"Why Humanism Is the Future" — Humanists UK Convention 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfI7VgkDFMg"Is there really a religious revival in England? Why I'm sceptical of a new report" (UCL News/The Conversation, 16 June 2025): https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/jun/comment-there-really-religious-revival-england-why-im-sceptical-new-reportBritish Religion in Numbers: https://www.brin.ac.ukMentioned in this episodeBible Society, "The Quiet Revival" report (retracted): https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revivalBBC News coverage of the report's retraction: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpwjxx5eyn1oChristian Smith, Why Religion Went Obsolete (Oxford University Press): https://global.oup.com/academic/product/why-religion-went-obsolete-9780197800737If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review — it helps more people find the show. Support Humanism Now from just £5/month for exclusive content, a say in future episodes, and we'll plant a tree each month in your name. Follow us @HumanismNowPod.Send us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

In this month's ARINS podcast host Rory Montgomery speaks with Adele Bergin, Seamus McGuinness and Conor Banahan of the Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin about their recently published ARINS article ‘Who is Better Off? Updated Cross-Border Differences in Living Standards, Opportunities and Quality of Life on the Island of Ireland'. The discussion covers their recent work which provides an updated assessment of living standards, opportunities for life progression and well-being across the island of Ireland. The article can be read open access, along with all ARINS publications, here: https://www.ria.ie/arins-research/who-is-better-off-updated-cross-border-differences-in-living-standards-opportunities-and-quality-of-life-on-the-island-of-ireland/ This podcast series provides evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. Host Rory Montgomery, MRIA, talks to authors of articles on topics such as cross border health co-operation; the need to regulate social media in referendums, education, cultural affairs and constitutional questions and the imperative for good data and the need to carry out impartial research. ARINS: Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South brings together experts to provide evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. The project publishes, facilitates and disseminates research on the challenges and opportunities presented to the island in a post-Brexit context, with the intention of contributing to an informed public discourse. More information can be found at www.arinsproject.com ARINS is a joint project of The Royal Irish Academy, an all-island body, and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs.

“If I perish, I perish.” — the chant Katie Gaddini heard from Esther's Army at the National Mall, weeks before the 2024 election Back in 2021, at the height of the pandemic, Margaret Atwood came on the show to talk about The Handmaid's Tale — her warning of how trad wives, to borrow a contemporary phrase, could be exploited by an evangelical patriarchy. Five years later, the Stanford fellow Katie Gaddini offers a strikingly different vision. Her new book, Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right (out today), is the product of nine years of research and over 100 interviews with conservative Christian women across 28 states. These women, this army of Esthers, are not handmaidens, Gaddini concludes. “They are very much in charge. They are politically engaged. They, in many cases, hold political positions of power.” Gaddini grew up as an evangelical — her father a pastor, with four more pastors in her extended family. She voted for George Bush “naturally,” before discovering she could be a Christian and not a Republican. But she is less a rebel against her upbringing as much as a sociologist with a Cambridge doctorate. She was living in London when Trump won the 2016 nomination and wondered how it was that Christian women were planning to vote for this most imperfect of men? Nine years and 100 interviews later, the answer turns out to be more complicated than the standard liberal media exploitation tale about handmaids. The book's title comes from the women themselves. At a 250,000-person rally on the National Mall weeks before the 2024 election, Gaddini saw women wearing gold-plated Esther necklaces, chanting “If I perish, I perish” from the Book of Esther. Gaddini interprets this as a striking theological shift — away from the forgiveness of the New Testament toward the Manichaean Old Testament narrative of violence, destruction, and an imperfect male figure designed by God to redeem the rest of us. Donald Trump, in this telling, is King David. Or Jehu. Margaret Atwood better watch out. This Army of Esthers are warriors, not handmaidens, and they are preparing for an apocalyptical war. If you perish, you perish. Another Old Testament-style pandemic. Five Takeaways •       Not Handmaids: Trad Wives Are a Tiny, Overhyped Fringe: Gaddini went into nine years of research expecting to find Atwood-style oppression. Instead: only one of her hundred-plus interviewees follows a trad wife on social media. Trad wives are overpopulated in media attention but represent a much smaller political force than coverage suggests. The women Gaddini actually studied span homeschool moms involved in local politics to Heritage Foundation lawyers to women working at the top echelons of power in Washington DC. They are diehard MAGA supporters and politically engaged — the opposite of passive. •       The Hidden History: Women Built the Conservative Movement Since the 1970s: Gaddini's archival research into the Reagan administration found women — never household names — who drafted legislation that still shapes policy today, including the squashing of federal child care. Phyllis Schlafly was not an aberration but part of coordinated networks of women who strategised together at national conventions, even as Schlafly took the spotlight while others worked behind the scenes. Books about the Christian right's formation in the 1980s have largely written women out of the story. Gaddini is writing them back in. •       Conservative Feminism: A More Complicated Relationship Than Expected: Gaddini expected uniform hostility to feminism, the classic Schlafly-era position. Instead she found a more nuanced split: some women reject feminism as toxic; others embrace a self-styled “conservative feminism,” remapping their politics onto a new understanding of women's empowerment. They reframe issues the left claims as women's issues — reproductive rights, birth control — as harmful to women, and argue that capitalism itself benefits women by letting families thrive on a single strong salary. A repackaging of feminist language for a conservative, highly gendered worldview. •       If I Perish, I Perish: The Old Testament Shift and the Esther Necklaces: At a 250,000-person rally on the National Mall weeks before the 2024 election, Gaddini saw international attendees — women from South Korea, Brazil, nuns from Nantucket — wearing gold Esther necklaces and chanting the book of Esther's key line. The theological shift she's tracking: away from the New Testament and Jesus, toward Old Testament violence, destruction, and imperfect male figures redeemed for God's purposes — the allegories comparing Trump to King David or Jehu. These women see themselves as warriors, not handmaidens. There is, in their minds, an absolute war going on. •       The Fracture Lines: Iran, MAHA, and the Jesus Selfie: Gaddini's research captures real fault lines opening in 2026: the Iran strikes alienated Trump voters who wanted America out of foreign wars; MAHA women — anti-vax homeschool moms alongside liberal Bay Area “crunchy” mothers, an unlikely ideological alliance forged through RFK Jr.'s endorsement — are furious about pesticide regulation rollbacks; and Trump's social media image styled as Jesus (he said it was meant to be a doctor) did not land well even with his base. Nobody Gaddini interviewed thinks Trump is a good Christian. They believe his policies align with their vision of America. That, for them, is what matters. About the Guest Katie Gaddini is a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University, Associate Professor of Sociology at the Social Research Institute, University College London, and a UKRI Research Fellow at Stanford and UCL (2022–2026). She is the author of Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right (W.W. Norton, June 30, 2026) and The Struggle to Stay: Why Single Evangelical Women Are Leaving the Church. Her writing has appeared in TIME, The Huffington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The Hill. She hosts the Podium and the Pulpit podcast and Substack. References: •       Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right by Katie Gaddini (W.W. Norton, June 30, 2026). •       Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale — referenced at the opening; Atwood previously appeared on KOA. •       Phyllis Schlafly — the 1970s conservative organiser; previously covered on KOA. •       Delano Squires, The Vanishing Black Family — referenced; Heritage Foundation fellow, recent KOA guest. •       Arlie Russell Hochschild, Stolen Pride — referenced as a sociological influence and fellow Bay Area scholar; ...

Dr Claire Keane, Associate Research Professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute, discusses its latest report which has found that recent energy price increases are placing a disproportionate burden on low-income households.

Recent energy price increases are placing a disproportionate burden on low-income households, with government supports only partly offsetting the impact. That's according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute. Joining Anton to discuss these findings was Dr Claire Keane, Associate Research Professor at the ESRI.

Recent energy price increases are placing a disproportionate burden on low-income households, with government supports only partly offsetting the impact. That's according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute. Joining Anton to discuss these findings was Dr Claire Keane, Associate Research Professor at the ESRI.

Both farmers and non-farmers worry about climate change and say they are willing to take action, yet they underestimate each other's worry and willingness. That's according to new research published this morning by the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss the research findings was Professor Pete Lunn Research Professor and Head of the ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit.

Both farmers and non-farmers worry about climate change and say they are willing to take action, yet they underestimate each other's worry and willingness. That's according to new research published this morning by the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss the research findings was Professor Pete Lunn Research Professor and Head of the ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit.

In this episode, Dr Tsen Vei Lim talks to Dr Philip Newall, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol, UK. The interview covers Philip's opinion and debate article on sludge, dark patterns and dark nudges: a taxonomy of online gambling platforms' deceptive design features.The rationale behind Philip's article [01:16]A background on the policy landscape associated with online gambling platforms [06:40]The three features that online gambling platforms use [09:18]The implications of these features for policymakers [14:30]The implications of these features for the gambling industry [17:22]The implications of these features for the people using online gambling platforms [19:46]The end goal of Philip's research [21:24]About Tsen Vei Lim: Tsen Vei is an academic fellow supported by the Society for the Study of Addiction, currently based at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge. His research integrates computational modelling, experimental psychology, and neuroimaging to understand the neuropsychological basis of addictive behaviours. He holds a PhD in Psychiatry from the University of Cambridge (UK) and a BSc in Psychology from the University of Bath (UK).About Philip Newall: Philip is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol's School of Psychological Science. Philip completed a PhD at the University of Stirling in 2016, before going on to postdoctoral research fellowships at Technical University of Munich, the University of Warwick, and Central Queensland University's Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory. Philip's research applies concepts and research methods from behavioural science to gambling. Philip was a member of the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling from 2021 to 2025, which was an advisory group of the Gambling Commission in Great Britain. In the last three years, Philip has been a named researcher on projects funded by the Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling, Alberta Gambling Research Institute, Arts and Humanities Research Council, BA/Leverhulme, Canadian Institute for Health Research, Clean Up Gambling, Gambling Research Australia, and the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. Philip has received honoraria for reviewing from the Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling and the Belgium Ministry of Justice, travel and accommodation funding from the Alberta Gambling Research Institute and the Economic and Social Research Institute, and open access fee funding from the Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling and Greo Evidence Insights.Original article: Sludge, dark patterns and dark nudges: A taxonomy of online gambling platforms' deceptive design features https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70085The opinions expressed in this podcast reflect the views of the host and interviewees and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official positions of the SSA or Addiction journal.The SSA does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of the information in external sources or links and accepts no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising from the use of such information.Music provided by Jack Shakespeare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's long been an issue around the lack of women studying STEM subjects, and by extension, working in those areas. While we hear about efforts to tackle gender equality, are we tackling the wrong problem? That's what Seán's guest has been writing about in The Irish Times.Muireann Lynch, Senior Research Officer in the Economic Analysis division of the Economic & Social Research Institute, joins to discuss.Image: Travel Adaptor

Three in four 17-year-olds in Ireland feel they experience some type of discrimination at least a few times a year. That's according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. Ciara Doherty is joined by, Dr. Helen Russell is a Research Professor with the ESRI

Three in four 17-year-olds in Ireland feel they experience some type of discrimination at least a few times a year. That's according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. Ciara Doherty is joined by, Dr. Helen Russell is a Research Professor with the ESRI

There's long been an issue around the lack of women studying STEM subjects, and by extension, working in those areas. While we hear about efforts to tackle gender equality, are we tackling the wrong problem? That's what Seán's guest has been writing about in The Irish Times.Muireann Lynch, Senior Research Officer in the Economic Analysis division of the Economic & Social Research Institute, joins to discuss.Image: Travel Adaptor

More than one in ten households cannot afford a warm home or their energy bills. That's according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss the findings we heard from Dr Miguel Tovar Reaños, Senior Research Officer, ESRI.

Some 14% of Irish households in 2024 said they were unable to afford adequate warmth or pay energy bills in full, according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. Speaking to Jonathan was Sinn Fein's spokesperson on housing and TD for Dublin Midwest Eoin O'Broin.

More than one in ten households cannot afford a warm home or their energy bills. That's according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss the findings we heard from Dr Miguel Tovar Reaños, Senior Research Officer, ESRI.

Some 14% of Irish households in 2024 said they were unable to afford adequate warmth or pay energy bills in full, according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. Speaking to Jonathan was Sinn Fein's spokesperson on housing and TD for Dublin Midwest Eoin O'Broin.

Dr. Muireann Lynch, Senior Research Officer at the Economic & Social Research Institute, outlines how Irish electricity prices compare to other European countries.

Professor Pete Lunn, who heads up the behavioural research unit at the Economic and Social Research Institute, tells us how people might respond to pleas to conserve energy.

First up on this week's Inside Business is Ireland's housing crisis and where it is felt most – Dublin city. Mark Fitzgerald is chairman of the Fine Gael Commission for renewal and a non-executive director of Sherry FitzGerald Group. He joined host Cliff Taylor in studio to discuss a recent piece he wrote for the Irish Times where he highlights restrictive geography and the lack of imagination around land use and zoning as some of the key contributors to the challenging housing situation in the capital. But what decisions led to the current scarcity of supply and what choices could be made to meet demand for future generations in the capital?Also on this episode, the latest report from the Economic and Social Research Institute suggests Ireland is trending to fall far below the 2030 targets as set out in the Climate Action Plan.Focusing on decarbonising Irish households, the report highlights the slow uptake in retrofitting and the installation of heat pumps. The report also points out some of the barriers preventing homeowners from taking such measures.Muireann Lynch is a Senior Research Officer with the ESRI and co-authored the report. She joined Cliff on the line to go through the report's key points.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up on this week's Inside Business is Ireland's housing crisis and where it is felt most – Dublin city. Mark Fitzgerald is chairman of the Fine Gael Commission for renewal and a non-executive director of Sherry FitzGerald Group. He joined host Cliff Taylor in studio to discuss a recent piece he wrote for the Irish Times where he highlights restrictive geography and the lack of imagination around land use and zoning as some of the key contributors to the challenging housing situation in the capital. But what decisions led to the current scarcity of supply and what choices could be made to meet demand for future generations in the capital?Also on this episode, the latest report from the Economic and Social Research Institute suggests Ireland is trending to fall far below the 2030 targets as set out in the Climate Action Plan.Focusing on decarbonising Irish households, the report highlights the slow uptake in retrofitting and the installation of heat pumps. The report also points out some of the barriers preventing homeowners from taking such measures.Muireann Lynch is a Senior Research Officer with the ESRI and co-authored the report. She joined Cliff on the line to go through the report's key points.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded March 10th, 2026. This interactive workshop discusses policy - how it is created, and how it can be shaped and influenced - with former Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh, and Mary Doyle, RIA Secretary for Policy and International Relations and former Assistant/Deputy Secretary in the Departments of the Taoiseach, Education and Skills, and Health and Children This is the third instalment of our new series, Bridging the Gap between Policy and Research, which explores how scholarship in the Arts and Humanities can shape and inform public policy for the common good. This event is designed to be of interest to anyone who wishes to explore how academic research can be more effectively integrated into national policymaking processes, with a focus on building sustainable, evidence-based partnerships between higher education and the State. The discussion will look at the current disconnects between research outputs and policy implementation. It will also explore lessons that can be learned from crisis-response models (e.g. COVID-19) where collaboration was immediate and highly effective. The objective is to identify feasible pathways and frameworks that could help us better engage more directly with the policymaking process.  In doing so, it will help us better understand who to approach when we have relevant research we wish to share, and how to go about shaping and influencing public policy.  Joe McHugh is a former Minister for Education and Skills and previously served as Chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs. During his time in public office, he held a number of senior ministerial roles and has been closely involved in European policy and governance at a national level. Mary Doyle is a former Assistant/Deputy Secretary in the Departments of the Taoiseach, Education and Skills, and Health and Children (1992 to 2018). While at the Department of Education and Skills she had responsibility for higher and further education policy, funding and legislation. She is a member of the Board of the Wheel and has been a member of the National Economic and Social Council, the Board of Science Foundation Ireland, the National Statistics Board and a Forum Member of the Economic and Social Research Institute. She holds a degree in European Studies from the University of Limerick and a Master's in Public Service Management from Trinity College Dublin/Irish Management Institute. She was elected to the Royal Irish Academy in 2022. Learn more at www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub

Dr Muireann Lynch, Senior Research Officer at the Ecominic & Social Research Institute, discusses why Ireland is off-target for decarbonising residential heating.

To explain the impact on prices, Dr Muireann Lynch, Senior Research Officer, Economic and Social Research Institute.

Ireland has Europe's largest gender gap when it comes to the use of advanced digital skills at work. That's according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss the findings we heard from Dr Adele Whelan Senior Research Officer, ESRI.

Ireland has Europe's largest gender gap when it comes to the use of advanced digital skills at work. That's according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss the findings we heard from Dr Adele Whelan Senior Research Officer, ESRI.

School absence has grown since the pandemic and shows little sign of improvement. That's the warning this morning in a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss further was Simon Lewis Primary School Principal and Podcaster.

School absence has grown since the pandemic and shows little sign of improvement. That's the warning this morning in a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss further was Simon Lewis Primary School Principal and Podcaster.

There should be a greater emphasis on equity, inclusion and diversity in schools to address the reduced sense of belonging reported by marginalised student groups. That's according to a new report on wellbeing in our schools from the Economic and Social Research Institute. Dr Caoimhe Dempsey, Report Author & Lecturer, University Colleg,e joined Ciara Kelly on the show to discuss.

There should be a greater emphasis on equity, inclusion and diversity in schools to address the reduced sense of belonging reported by marginalised student groups. That's according to a new report on wellbeing in our schools from the Economic and Social Research Institute. Dr Caoimhe Dempsey, Report Author & Lecturer, University Colleg,e joined Ciara Kelly on the show to discuss.

Dr Shane Timmons, Senior Research Officer with the Economic and Social Research Institute, discusses the findings of a new report regarding immigration.

Housing output will remain below underlying demand, while average rent levels are set to rise again in 2026. That's the warning from the Economic and Social Research Institute in its quarterly economic commentary. We discuss this further with Dr. Conor O'Toole, Associate Research Professor at ESRI.

Ireland's economy is highly vulnerable to external risks in a pessimistic global economic environment. That's the warning from the Economic and Social Research Institute, who have today published their medium-term Economic Outlook. With more on this we heard from John Fitzgerald Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin.

Dr. Claire Keane, of the Economic and Social Research Institute, analyses the effect of this week's budget on households.

Tax and welfare measures introduced in Budget 2026 will result in average 2 per cent loss in disposable income. That's according to a new analysis published this morning by the Economic and Social Research Institute.

The Government has been warned of the danger of overheating the economy with its planned €9.4 billion spending increase in the Budget next month by the Economic and Social Research Institute. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin.

One in five Irish children now live below the poverty line when housing costs are taken into account, according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute. Co-author of the report Dr Barra Roantree joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing to this morning discuss his findings while Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children's Rights Alliance joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

According to the Economic and Social Research Institute, if the home ownership continues to fall at its current rate, the poverty rate among over-65s will more than double from 14 to 31 per cent. This begs the question how are older renters able to afford these average rents? Pat discusses this further with Lorcan Sirr Senior Housing Lecturer, Technological University Dublin and also 70 year old Brendan O'Neill who spent 18 years as a renter in Dublin.

Dr Alan Barrett, research professor at Economic and Social Research Institute and Louise Byrne, political correspondent Irish Examiner.

The Economic and Social Research Institute has today brought out the results of research it has conducted into attitudes to immigration in both rural and urban settings. For more on this Keira Murphy is Senior Policy Officer with the ESRI and of the co-authors of this research.

Professor Mitsuhito Mimura, a leading Japanese expert on the North Korean economy, joins this week's podcast for an in-depth discussion on the DPRK's economic resilience, shifting trade patterns and deepening ties with China and Russia. With over 35 trips to North Korea under his belt, Mimura shares rare insights into how Pyongyang sustains infrastructure growth under heavy sanctions, how unofficial coal exports to China support both formal and informal sectors and how military and economic cooperation with Moscow could shape the North's trajectory. He also weighs in on Japan's view of the emerging China-Russia-DPRK axis and what it could mean for Tokyo's future engagement with Pyongyang. Mitsuhiro Mimura is a leading Japanese expert on the North Korean economy and regional integration in Northeast Asia. Currently a professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute for Northeast Asia, University of Niigata Prefecture, he previously served as a senior research fellow at the Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia.  About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists. NK News subscribers can listen to this and other exclusive episodes from their preferred podcast player by accessing the private podcast feed. For more detailed instructions, please see the step-by-step guide at nknews.org/private-feed.

A new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute has found that offers like free bets and money-back guarantees from gambling companies convince people to place more bets, leaving punters at risk of gambling addiction.Dr Diarmaid Ó Ceallaigh, Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the ESRI Behavioural Research Unit and Professor Colin O'Gara, Head of Addiction Services at St. John Of God Hospital spoke to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the conversation.

Lucie Martin, Research Officer, Behavioural Research Unit, Economic and Social Research Institute, discusses a new report that finds most low-income households had to make "high-risk" changes to their finances to cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

Professor Kieran McQuinn, research professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute, outlines how global uncertainty and trade policy could affect the Irish economy.

A new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute shows Ireland's rent control system has kept most rents in check but has shrunk supply, creating a two-tier market and scaring off investors. Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson on Housing Rory Hearne, and Maurice Deverell from the Irish Property Owners Association, discuss.

There's a warning US tariffs could cause job losses and multinationals to leave Ireland. A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute has looked into the direct consequences of potential tariffs It's found the economy could contract by 2 per cent over a 5- year period. Dr. Paul Egan of the Economic and Social Research Institute says employment could also fall significantly... Meanwhile, Potential US tariffs could lead to pharmaceutical companies gradually pulling out of Ireland. That's according to a study from consultancy firm Sia, which shows the looming threats to our 116 billion euro export sector. It's calling for steps to be taken to shield Irish biopharma firms from a possible US trade shift. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennis Economist and Assistant Professor of Social Policy at UCD Micheál Collins. Photo(C): Fly Of Swallow via canva

Dr Paul Egan, Research Officer at the Economic and Social Research Institute, discusses the potential impact to the Irish economy of US tariffs on the EU.

A Clare disability activist fears it's becoming a widely accepted belief that being disabled and living in poverty go hand in hand. A new report published by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commissionand the Economic and Social Research Institute has found that households with a disabled member face "significant" financial burdens and have a "very high" risk of poverty rates. It's estimated that households with a disabled member require up to 59% more disposable income to achieve the same standard of living as a similar households with no disabled member. Speaking on Clare FM's Morning Focus, Ennistymon native Ann Marie Flanagan says there's a risk that society could become complacent and refuse to imagine the situation changing.

A new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute says that there was a strong link between the number of cases of Covid-19 reported daily and the efforts the Irish public made to reduce the spread of infection.Professor Pete Lunn, Research Professor at the ESRI spoke to Matt about these findings, and how attitudes and behavioural patterns towards the pandemic varied among different socio-economic backgrounds and age groups.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to listen to the conversation.