The Economics Show

Affordability is set to be a key issue in US politics ahead of the country’s midterm elections. And though American politicians often express their support for the country’s middle class, life has become progressively more difficult for that group, Mechele Dickerson argues. The University of Texas law professor explains how sluggish wage growth, housing policy and the growth of personal debt have made it harder to secure the markers of middle class life.Claire Jones is the FT’s US economics editor. You can find her articles here Subscribe to The Economics Show on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen. Presented by Claire Jones. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s acting co-head of audio. Original music from Breen Turner, and sound design by Sam Giovinco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some of the world’s biggest financial institutions are reeling after the collapse of a little-known car parts supplier: First Brands Group. The company filed for bankruptcy last month, and since then, FT reporters have shone a spotlight on billions of dollars of hidden debt and a secretive founder whose borrowing habits left creditors exposed. The FT’s corporate finance editor Robert Smith and banking editor Ortenca Aliaj walk through their investigation and explain how this event has raised questions about potential cracks in private credit. This is a repeat of an episode published on Behind The Money, a sister podcast of The Economics Show, on October 29, 2025For further reading:The secretive First Brands founder, his $12bn debt and the future of private creditFirst Brands Group: dude, where’s my cash?First Brands bankruptcy: the losers — and winnersFollow Robert Smith on X (@BondHack), or on Bluesky (@bondhack.ft.com). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Commission must urgently dismantle internal trade barriers that are stifling innovation, productivity and investment across the EU. So says Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, in a conversation with the FT’s chief economics commentator, Martin Wolf, as she calls for immediate structural reforms and explains why this is the moment to do it.This interview was recorded on December 10 as part of the FT’s The Global Boardroom conference.Subscribe and listen to this series of The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Read Martin’s column here Sound design and original music by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this final episode of their series for The Economics Show, FT chief economics commentator Martin Wolf and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman consider listeners’ questions and comments ranging from a critique of globalisation, increasing inequality and plutocracy, the global appetite for US federal debt, China’s economic future and much more.Subscribe and listen to this series of The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Read Martin’s column here Subscribe to Paul’s substack hereFind Paul’s cultural coda here.Find Martin’s cultural coda here.Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Tom Hannen is the video editor. Sound design and original music by Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US last week released its new national security strategy – and it wasn’t good news for Europe. The document, which sets out US foreign policy priorities, blasted Europe for undermining “political liberty and sovereignty”, de-emphasised the threat from Russia, reframed America’s competition with China and put influence over the western hemisphere at the top of the US agenda. In this episode, FT chief economics commentator Martin Wolf and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman discuss what the impact of this new US strategy may be. How should Europe react to this sharp turn from its strongest historical ally? And is Trump handing China the world on a silver platter?Email any questions for Martin and Paul to [email protected] and listen to this series of The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Read Martin’s column here Subscribe to Paul’s Substack hereFind Paul’s cultural coda here.Find Martin’s cultural coda here.Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Tom Hannen is the video editor. Sound design by Breen Turner. Original music by Breen Turner.The Wolf-Krugman Exchange: America vs the world videoRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.