The Other Hand

Happy St Patrick's Day! Ireland's place in the world - the threats and opportunities

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some advice: don't be like the UK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump is unbound and unhinged. At least the stock market has worked it out.

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Taking the knee is all very well but..... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MAGA is all in. Even a stock market crash is not going to change hearts or minds

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The most important moment for Europe since the Berlin Wall came down Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In conversation with Dan Davies, author of "The Unaccountability Machine"

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From Brad de Long's review of the book:Understanding how to make our systems more accountable and more human may not be the key to our survival, but i...

The West is over. Get over it.

02 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The EU must transform itself or die Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can the EU survive the collapse of the post-WW2 world order?

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Not without big changes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to cope with a pro-Russian cult that is trying to destroy any idea of "The West"

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US gives Europe the finger

16 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trump aligns with Moscow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will the West unite against its new common enemy? (That's America, in case you hadn't guessed)

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Canada should join the EU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding nobility in the health service. Something notably absent in the White House

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why cause chaos? 'Because I can'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should the first act of Ireland's new government be an emergency budget?

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hoping for the best and not preparing for the worst Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wanted: politicians who fill in potholes. Delivery, delivery, delivery

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Where is Ireland's charismatic right-wing rabble rouser? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you warming to Donald Trump?

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Day 1 of the new era Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to stop Farage from being the next UK Prime Minister

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Could 2025 be the year of peak populism? The year of 'the great awakening' of normal people?The MAGAisation of corporate America: something that is al...

The dark side of technology - from tech evangelist Joan Mulvihill

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Akin to launching aeroplanes without safety or regulatory checks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The age of stupid? Or will financial markets impose sanity?

11 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Economists have sung the praises of free trade for centuries. But nobody that matters believes any longer that free trade is good. The new religion ha...

Is the Musk-Trump administration trying to kill the idea of the West? Bond markets crash and German mysteries

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are all tech-titans evil? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can the EU survive Trump?

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

And all the latest data! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking forward, looking backward. It's that time of year again.

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How much is enough? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Second biggest fiscal disaster in the history of the State? Or just disaster porn?

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irish House prices up again, Fed cuts, markets tank, UK woes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musk is winning in Washington, Farage is winning in the UK

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The UK's Labour government has already had to 'reset' it's goals. Nigel Farage is the big winner from Keir Starmer's incompetence.In the US, it looks ...

'House prices 10% over-valued". What does this mean? Anything?

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

House prices, latest data and interest rates Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A surprising haven of stability: Ireland has something new to offer the world

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

France and Germany join the list of countries offering nothing but political chaos. Farage wants the UK to be in that club very soon. Guess which coun...

Well done Ireland: a strong mandate for continuity centrism.

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at the results of GE 24 and disagree about several things. More such disagreements are very likely. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

Not another Eurozone debt crisis?

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are we in the foothills of another Euro area crisis? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fine Gael mess up yet another election campaign

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Carey joins us to discuss an election campaign that has finally caught fire. But not in the way that Fine Gael would likeWhen will they realise ...

Election special! With renowned political commentator Tull McAdoo

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Well-known political analyst, commentator and occasional comedian, Tull McAdoo, joins Chris to talk about the General Election.Will Ireland join the r...

Ireland is marooned between a Kakistocracy and a Mediocrity

23 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The world is changing. Rapidly. Have we noticed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish house prices and jobs are still booming.

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irish employment is still growing - at another all-time high. Not unrelatedly, house prices are also booming.UK farmers are protesting about inheritan...

Budget 2025 meets Project 2025. Nobody seems to have noticed.

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Budget 2025 has been derailed by Project 2025 - the radical agenda denied by Trump during his campaign (it really is so extreme even he had to disavow...

What can you do if the electorate will bear anything but the truth?

16 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Trump is impossible to forecast - so should we stop trying? Is talking about him merely enabling him? Colluding with him?There is a spiders-web of con...

The Trump effect on markets and the global economy. Somebody is getting it very wrong. Who?

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The list of reasons why Trump won is getting longer. Some make sense, some do not. We look at the evidence-based ones. One very stark conclusion: not ...

Our verdict on Trump 2.0. It's not pretty.

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Well, we said it was the year of election. Now we live with the consequences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can we bridge the big divides? Whoever wins?

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The fabulous US economy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK drowns in debt as Ireland wallows in cash - what a contrast. Labour delivers a proper old fashioned class war budget

02 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The first UK budget ever delivered by a female Chancellor was presented with aplomb and panache. A pity the details didn’t match up to the presentat...

Europe's woes deepen. They go back a long way and are suddenly getting worse - Germany's car engine has broken down

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Germany is in economic trouble. Its car industry - 7% of the economy - is being squeezed by struggling exports (to China in particular) and a poorly h...

Unchecked power: why do so many men adore The Godfather?

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Loads of men (mostly) say their favourite movie is The Godfather. Plenty also rate the Sopranos as the best TV series ever. Is that because they secre...

Why do we fight? An exploration of the causes of conflict and war, focussing on a brilliant and important book

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to conclude that we are a violent species. Just look at the state of the world.In a quite brilliant book, Professor Christopher Blattman arg...

The house price boom is getting boomier. Is there still a cost of living crisis?

19 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irish house prices are now well in excess of their pre-financial crisis peaks. Is the only thing that will get them down an old fashioned recession? M...

Needed: a resilient domestic economy. Shocks are certain. Only question is when

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The arguments over the help needed for the domestic economy run and runIs Sinn Fein just a reunification party with a few half-hearted populist polici...

Is the Irish economy under-heating? Inflation gets headlines, disinflation not so much.

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is the Irish inflation rate too low? All economists bar one or two say that the economy is over-heating. Could the opposite be true? Latest data certa...

UK politics: dysfunction and chaos. Again already?

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Keir Starmer up to the task? The early evidence suggests not?Are bankers worth it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The post-budget state of Irish politics: in conversation with leading Irish journalist Sarah Carey

06 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Has the coalition blown it? Or does the outpouring of budget criticism from official Ireland miss the point: it's what the people wanted? Hosted on Ac...

Was the budget really 'morally bankrupt'? 'Partying like it's 2006'?

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will the electorate be grateful for budget 2025?Where was the long-term strategy and/or vision?So little for Irish businesses, particularly indigenous...

Budget 2025 - the big questions: Democracy or totalitarianism? Which is better at building houses?

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As we approach Budget 2025, we reflect on the usual leaked measures and suggest we are just children looking for the keys to the sweet shop. And yet s...

A central banker urges government to spend. That's a sentence we never thought we would write

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A prominent ex central banker has suggested that Ireland should spend the money: it's time, he says, for 'Jam today'. That's our interpretation, at le...

Europe's manufacturing slowdown threatens recession and promises lower interest rates

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There is a building slowdown in global manufacturing that is starting to look serious. This is a Chinese problem that is fast becoming a major issue f...

House prices go boom. So does the Federal Reserve - Trump will go nuts

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The US central bank goes large and delivers a big interest rate cut. Thereby admitting it should have cut sooner.The Irish property market moves into ...

Apple tax hysteria - it's getting very silly.

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the right level of interest rates? While discussion of 'R-star' might seem esoteric, they do say one important thing: Euro interest rates are ...

Draghi to Brussels: do whatever it takes or the EU is toast. Irish inflation, American debt and the mystery of still too high Euro interest rates.

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irish inflation this week confirmed that the economy is showing few, if any, obvious signs of overheating. Prices are still going. up but at their slo...

A podcast for petrol-heads. Life in the fast lane: the business of motor racing. And a young person's perspective on Ireland.

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast special Jim talks with Alex Denning, a 25 year old racing superstar.The business of modern racing is all about money, contacts and dri...

Apple taxes. Windfall taxes. A podcast special

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

To the surprise of many observers, Europe's top court has told Apple it must pay Ireland €13.1 billion in back taxes.In a case that dates back to 20...

'Europe faces an existential crisis'. According to Mario Draghi, at least.....He's right.

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Latest jobs numbers from the US point to a weakening economy. Interest rate cuts are on the way. The only question is, 'how big?'European elites are w...

It keeps raining cash on the Finance Minister. A big budget is coming.

07 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Still drowning in cash, the new Finance Minister is warned by IFAC, yet again, not to spend it. Are the fiscal giveaways of past budgets really costin...

It's raining: spend the rainy day fund now! Have Sinn Fein finally stumbled upon a good idea?

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rather than put all the spare cash in a 'future proof' fund, should the Finance Minister simply recognise the future is here, right now?Deviance has b...

Who is J D Vance? A podcast special with Professor Shane O'Mara

31 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

J D Vance has shot to prominence following his selection by Donald Trump to be, potentially, the next Vice President of the US.In this podcast special...

Tax breaks on pensions: what are they for? Inheritance taxes: should they be 100%

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The upcoming budget is thought likely to include changes - increases - to tax breaks on pensions and a rise in inheritance tax thresholds. We both agr...

Never mind the policy, feel the vibe! Why any focus on Kamala Harris' economics is besides the point - for now.

25 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ireland has just set a new record for the number of people in employment. Back in the day, you either worked on the farm, civil service, domestic serv...

House prices zooming up again. What is driving property values? Is more construction really the answer?

18 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irish house prices are approaching double digit rates of increase. What is going on? Is it supply? Demand? Interest rates? Demography? The robust econ...

Is it time to cancel Twitter/X? The weirdness of Trump. The pound-shop Bond villain Musk

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chris explains why he has deleted his Twitter/X account.Donald Trump is weird, but is it a good attack line for the Democrats?Elon Musk's resemblance ...

Could Intel go the way of Nokia? The three big threats to Ireland's economy

10 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It seems a touch fanciful to us, but some analysts are wondering if Intel could go the way of Nokia. What is true is that at least one big company wit...

Stock markets go down as well as up. Narrative fallacies and how to think about what happens next.

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Reminder: stock markets go down as well as up. But wait long enough and they usually go up. Is the return of volatility a sign of a problem or just an...

Is the era of ultra low interest rates about to make an unexpected return?

03 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Markets message to central banks: you are making a big mistake Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global growth is slowing - central banks behind the curve? Rocketing gas prices will cloud the inflation picture

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

'Weird' and 'vibe' are the words of the moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economic growth - what is it good for? Everything. Beware the luxury beliefs of the degrowthers

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is with all these extreme Catholics in positions of power & influence in the US? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catwomen, conspiracy theories and skewed tax systems

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is J D Vance nomination Trump's big strategic error? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If inflation is coming down why is the price of a pint still over 7 quid?

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Reflections on Hillbilly Hypocrisy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish politics and the meaning of life. In conversation with Sarah Carey

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Has Simon Harris managed to change the narrative? He's 'taken back control' of at least some of the key issue. We shouldn't underestimate the powerful...

Was the Summer Economic Statement worth the paper it was written on?

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Keir Starmer already getting lucky? Only one month's data, but GDP growth smashed estimates in May.US and Irish inflation down again.IFAC warns abo...

A deep dive into the current state of Irish politics with Tull McAdoo

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Irish political scene looks as fluid as that in France, the UK and elsewhere. The polls are getting it wrong and plenty of voters don't make up th...

A smile on our faces? In conversation about all things UK - 'Brexit & Beyond' - with Professor Chris Grey

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In conversation with author, blogger and columnist, Professor Chris GreyPost the Labour landslide election victory, some of us have smiles on our face...

Has Liz Truss done the world a big favour? Reflections on the UK General election

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Irish finance minister is drowning in cash. Booming tax revenues the clearest indicator - much better than GDP - that the economy remains robust.P...

Why is everyone so unhappy? Or are we? In conversation with Professor Shane O'Mara

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast we welcome back regular guest, Professor Shane O'Mara, neuroscientist and professor at Trinity College Dublin.I a review of an importa...

The horseshoe theory of politics - hard right or left? The year of the election goes into top gear

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The French elections will likely reverberate across Europe. Perhaps even alter the course of the war in Ukraine.The UK will now see the final death th...

Irish house prices on the rise again. So are global house prices. They should have fallen 30%-50 but interest rates are now set to fall.%

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The most inept election campaign in history? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Middle of the Year of The Election - how the Pentagon's analysis of UFOs could help political analysts

16 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is The Other Hand behind the demise of Sinn Fein? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'After taking the pin out, you are supposed to throw the grenade'. Is the UK really in worse political shape than the US?

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

An immediate post-budget Irish election? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Stop the world, we want to get off": SF takes offence at the 'militarisation of the EU'. A poor month for the Irish consumer. REal wage growth might come to the rescue.

02 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How far can EU rate cuts diverge from the US? And much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A rare opportunity to do the strategically right thing and reap political dividends: a budget for housing, not tax cuts.

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jean-Claude Juncker, ex-head of the EU Commission, once famously said that policymakers know what is the right thing to do, but don't know how to get ...

Economic PTSD? EU economy growing again. US economy accelerates? Stock market reaction to Nvidia humbles analysts

26 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

UK election dominates headlines that should be about China simulating war Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Interest rates likely to fall next month - in the EU at least. But does the ECB know what it is doing? Nvidia & the nuttiness of stock markets.

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation falls in the UK but *only* to 2.3%. Cue weeping and wailing and much hot air. The narcissism of small differences.Does anybody know what rea...

Politics & opinion polls in Ireland, UK & US. Why are Sinn Fein suffering because of immigration? Have they lost vital momentum?

19 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Opinion polls on both sides of the Atlantic tell fascinating stories. Sinn Fein has lost momentum. Have they peaked too soon? Rishi Sunak's Tories are...

Is immigration just one of those unsolvable problems? Biden's EV tariffs repeat the mistakes of the 1970s

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We might need 80,000 new houses a year - or we might not. It all depends on so many imponderables.One of them being the level of immigration. We now s...

Is the liberal world order really about to collapse? Or should we take cheer from 'The Curse of The Economist"

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The State the UK is in & much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Robert Kennedy JR's brain been eaten by a worm? Could it be responsible for his conspiracy theories. Do protests work?

11 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In conversation with Professor of Experimental Brain Research, Shane O'Mara.Robert Kennedy Junior says a worm has eaten part of his brain. Is this pos...

If Gaza gifts Trump the White House the great Bidenomics experiment is over. A lot of other things will also be over.

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The economic consequences of the war in Gaza have so far been very limited. The oil price has been well-behaved, all things considered.But that war is...

Unemployment edges up on both sides of the Atlantic. UK election results show Sunak up as a hopeless politician he really can't do politics.

05 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Unemployment edges up on both sides of the Atlantic - things are definitely showing early signs of slowing down.Whatever the outlook there are very go...

An ex-UK Cabinet Minister suggests bussing refugees to the Irish border in order to show the "pious" Irish government who is the boss.

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The border never went away you know. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If war is coming to Europe, is membership of the EU and neutrality mutually inconsistent?

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A packed podcast:It may be the ultimate social faux pas, but dare we say the latest Revenue annual report contains a wealth of fascinating data?Back t...

What will the next generation think of us? Taking the other side of IMF forecast bets.

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Irish government has released its latest assessment of where the economy is heading. It looks like. a forlorn attempt to dampen expectations ahead...

Irish house prices up again. Time to change the global growth narrative? Markets, the IMF & The Economist all have bought into stronger growth & higher interest rates.

21 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wing nuts are in charge? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Ireland go Dutch? Prolonged coalition negotiations likely if no party gets more than 30% of the GE vote.

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Latest opinion polls - and a bit of political crystal ball gazing - points to no one party getting more than 30% of the vote at the upcoming Irish gen...

It's beginning to look a lot like the 1930s

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Initial financial market reaction to big events is often wrong Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Higher for longer US interest rates = higher for longer mortgage rates in Ireland and U.K.

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

More thoughts on the. Economics of Irish reunification Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish reunification: the costs and other issues - many that haven't even been thought about

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Edgar Morgenroth has recently published a joint paper with professor John Fitzgerald that takes a deep dive into the potential costs of Iris...

Getting ready for war in Europe? Competing narrative fallacies about markets.

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Watch the oil price Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inflation falls again. But interest rates cut hopes fade. World economy fails to land - takes off instead.

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irish and Eurozone inflation falls again - what is the ECB waiting for?In the US, the super soaraway economy is dashing hopes of quick rate cuts . Per...

Is free trade always and everywhere a good thing? Get ready for the 2nd China shock - the first one gave us Trump, Brexit and the populist plague

31 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of the first thing that economists are taught is the Free Trade is a Good Thing. One thing that economists don't speak too much about is that free...

'I didn't leave Fine Gael, they left me'. In conversation with leading journalist Sarah Carey

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leading journalist Sarah Carey talks to Jim and Chris about Leo Varadkar's departure and Simon Harris' accession.'Harris needs to be much more than a ...

House prices firmly on the rise again. Leo exits.

23 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Global growth showing signs of acceleration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.