Reuters Econ World
by Reuters
Join Reuters journalist Carmel Crimmins every week as she and her guests pick apart a key economic principle behind the world’s news. Get beyond buzzwords and technical terms to understand the ideas and debates shaping the global economic agenda.
Episodes
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Democrats and the AI economy
A blue wave has swept Washington, but many of the forces shaping the US economy remain out of Congress's control. From stubborn inflation and the AI boom to Elon Musk's political setback and the backlash against billionaires, US economics editor Dan Burns joins host Carmel Crimmins to break down...
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An economist behind the Prop 40 California wealth tax
California is voting on a historic measure to tax billionaires. The idea of a one-time 5% wealth tax is putting Silicon Valley on edge. Emmanuel Saez, one of the economists who helped design Proposition 40, joins host Carmel Crimmins to discuss the economics of taxing large fortunes. Can wealth...
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Prediction markets and social good: an interview with Kalshi's CEO
Prediction markets let people weigh in on everything from elections and sports matches to Taylor Swift concerts. Supporters say they aggregate information better than polls or pundits. Critics worry they're just betting dressed up as forecasting. Kalshi co-founder and CEO Tarek Mansour joins host...
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France's fiscal fault lines
A generational dilemma lies at the heart of France's financial problems. Older voters rely on a social contract built during decades of stronger growth. But a rising pension bill is sucking resources away from other priorities. Host Carmel Crimmins and correspondent Leigh Thomas examine why…
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AI at work
AI is already changing the labor market, but not in the way many people expect. Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP, joins host Carmel Crimmins to explain why AI appears to be reshaping tasks rather than eliminating jobs, why younger workers are feeling the impact first, and why experience is...
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Australia's housing squeeze
Higher interest rates are testing homeowners Down Under. Australia's property market is cooling, with ripple effects across the wider economy. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Reuters reporters Stella Qiu and Byron Kaye about what Australia's housing squeeze reveals about the impact of rising...
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The 5% yield
The world's most-watched financial marker is hitting levels not seen in decades. So how worried should you be? Host Carmel Crimmins talks to U.S. economics editor Dan Burns about the consequences of a rise in U.S. 10-year treasury yields and what it all means for borrowers and investors. Sign up...
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Trump's EV U-Turn
America's car industry spent years preparing for an electric future when President Trump flipped the script. Reuters U.S. autos editor Mike Colias joins host Carmel Crimmins to unpack the fallout from Trump's policy reversal and what it means for manufacturing jobs, profits, and the challenge…
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The cost of quantum
Quantum computers are coming, but who will pay for their development? On this episode of Reuters Econ World, Jonathan Ruane of MIT joins host Carmel Crimmins to unpack the multibillion-dollar race to build the next generation of computing, how geopolitical competition is shaping the industry, and...
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Right-wing populism
Far-right and anti-immigration parties are a diverse bunch when it comes to the economy. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Catherine De Vries, head of political science at the IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs, about the economic policies of right-wing populists as they lead opinion...
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The Treasury twist
Scott Bessent wants lower borrowing costs but the bond market has other ideas. Host Carmel Crimmins unpacks the Treasury Secretary's plans for a "Treasury twist" and the battle over U.S. interest rates. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter Catch Reuters Morning Bid...
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Europe's electric dreams
Europe is making a multi-trillion euro bet that homegrown electricity can solve some of its biggest problems: high energy costs, geopolitical vulnerability, and industrial decline. On this week's Econ World, energy columnist Ron Bousso joins host Carmel Crimmins to explore whether renewables,...
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Coughing up: the economics of sick leave
Germany is cracking down on sick leave to cut costs and boost growth. But could it backfire? Host Carmel Crimmins talks to economist Nicolas Ziebarth about the hidden economics of sick leave, from adverse selection and moral hazard to the trade-offs involved in calling in sick and working while...
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China's gig economy
The world’s biggest flexible workforce is both an economic buffer and a financial strain for China. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Reuters economics lead writer for China, Marius Zaharia, about the trade-offs at play in the world’s biggest gig economy.
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The price of war
Russia is paying an increasingly high price for President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. Growth is spluttering and inflation is rising once again as Ukrainian attacks push up fuel prices. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Andrew Osborn, Reuters chief correspondent for Russia, about what the drum…
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The yen
Japan’s currency is on a historic slide. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Rocky Swift, chief correspondent for markets in Japan, about what Tokyo is doing to shore up the currency and the implications for the rest of the world. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter Catch…
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Rerouting the Gulf
Gulf nations are scrambling to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Timour Azhari, chief correspondent in Saudi Arabia, about the mania for pipelines and the geopolitical hurdles to diversification. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter Catch Reuters...
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Fed talk
Kevin Warsh wants the U.S. central bank to talk less. But is silence really golden for the economy? Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Federal Reserve correspondent Howard Schneider and European Central Bank correspondent Balazs Koranyi about keeping policy debates behind closed doors and letting the...
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Brexit: Is that it? – Live from London
A decade after Britain voted to leave the European Union the debate around reversing it has re-ignited. Transatlantic tensions and the battle over No. 10 have put Brexit back under a spotlight. Host Carmel Crimmins takes the stage at Reuters NEXT to talk “de-Brexiting” with Europe editor Rachel...
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The World Cup economy
Is it football? Is it soccer? Whatever the name, it’s big business. On this episode of Econ World, sports economist and author Stefan Szymanski joins host Carmel Crimmins to explore how the World Cup became a multi-billion-dollar spectacle, and why the 2026 event is shaping up to be the biggest...
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Class dismissed: The economics of U.S. higher education
America’s small private colleges are facing declining enrollment, rising debt, and mounting closures. Is higher education in crisis or simply adapting to a new market environment? On this episode of Reuters Econ World, Jon Marcus of the Hechinger Report joins host Carmel Crimmins to unpack the...
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Trump’s problem
What starts at the checkout line often ends at the ballot box. President Trump’s war in Iran is driving up the price of gasoline and groceries making inflation one of the defining issues in U.S. politics right now. With the midterms just months away, host Carmel Crimmins talks to Sally Buzbee,...
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Inside Europe’s shortest workweek
People in the Netherlands on average spend less time working than any other advanced country - just 32 hours a week. Could the rest of the world follow their lead? On this week’s episode of Econ World, guest host Ethan Plotkin meets workers in Amsterdam who have Fridays off and speaks with the...
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Kevin Warsh’s policy trap
President Trump’s pick for Fed chair is facing a multi-trillion-dollar high-wire act. The Iran war is ratcheting up inflationary pressures as the jobs market weakens. Raising or cutting interest rates right now could be problematic. But doing nothing is also risky with President Trump determined…
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The economics of $60-plus cigarettes
Australia's sky‑high cigarette taxes have slashed smoking rates - but they have also helped fuel a booming black market for illicit tobacco. Host Carmel Crimmins speaks with Assistant Customs Minister Julian Hill and economist Lachlan Vass on whether Australia’s tobacco excise has overshot its…
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Safe havens
What’s the best refuge for investors in times of crisis? Traditional safe-haven assets, including gold and the yen, are faltering as the war in Iran rattles markets. Host Carmel Crimmins is joined by Reuters Morning Bid hosts Mike Dolan and Anna Szymanski to unpack what 'safe' really means in a...
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Live podcast: The affordability gap
Hear Carmel Crimmins live from New York with A Starting Point's (ASP) Chris Evans and Mark Kassen as they examine the ways Gen Z has been hit by the cost of living crisis and look for solutions. Watch as NYC council member Chi Ossé and Aaron Hedlund from the White House Council of Economic…
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Will Trump’s Iran war jumpstart the EV revolution?
The U.S. electric vehicle market was bracing for an “EV winter” after President Trump’s policies championed gas-powered cars. Then he went to war with Iran. Can the energy crisis caused by that conflict turn things around for EVs? Reuters U.S. autos editor Mike Colias joins host Carmel Crimmins…
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Adam Smith’s time to shine
The “father of capitalism” has some lessons for the global economy. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to European economics editor Mark John about why Adam Smith’s observations on trade, the super-rich and productivity in “The Wealth of Nations” still resonate 250 years after the book’s publication.…
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The Gulf’s nightmare scenario
Gulf states are paying the price for the U.S. war in Iran. Iranian missile and drone strikes are upending their image as a safe haven in an unsafe region and forcing investors to reprice the risk of doing business there. Reuters Gulf Bureau Chief Maha El Dahan joins host Carmel Crimmins to talk...
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Iran: supply shock
President Donald Trump’s war in Iran risks a major blow to the global economy. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to U.S. economics editor Dan Burns and European economics editor Mark John about what a surge in energy prices means for inflation, growth and the U.S. midterm elections. Sign up for the Iran...
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(Middle) power play: de-risking from America
Global trade is being rewritten as U.S. allies scramble to “de‑risk” from Washington. Reuters Editor-at-large for Finance and Markets, Mike Dolan, joins host Carmel Crimmins to unpack why America has suddenly become the world’s biggest economic uncertainty - and what this shift means for China,...
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The big shrink
Will weight-loss drugs fuel the global economy, or give it indigestion? Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Michele Gershberg, global health editor and U.S. business editor David Gaffen about the impact of falling obesity rates on consumer spending, productivity and government finances. Sign up for the...
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Dating apps
They promise to help you find 'the one' but dating apps face a strange economic incentive: every successful match means losing two customers. This week, Carmel Crimmins digs into the multibillion‑dollar business of online love - how apps keep you swiping, why Gen Z is pulling back, and whether AI...
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Kevin Warsh
President Trump’s pick to run the Federal Reserve says it needs “regime change” but can the nominee deliver an overhaul? Kevin Warsh has criticized the Fed on everything from interest rates to how it communicates. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Fed correspondent Howard Schneider about what Warsh...
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Mission critical: Trump and the mineral race
The United States is scrambling to break China’s chokehold on critical minerals. From government equity stakes to fast-track permits for deep sea mining, the Trump administration is racing to access the essential elements for AI and national defense. Reuters’ Ernest Scheyder unpacks the…
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Just noise? Investing in turbulent geopolitical times
From Venezuela to Greenland to attacks on the Federal Reserve, the geopolitical hits keep coming. So, how do you spot the events that will move markets? Geopolitical analyst Marko Papic joins host Carmel Crimmins to talk risk, at home and abroad Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at…
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Is Big Tech too big to slow down?
The AI arms race is making Big Tech even bigger. Is their AI obsession bad for the U.S. economy? Host Carmel Crimmins talks to anti-trust scholar Tim Wu about Silicon Valley’s big players and what their dominance of the digital economy means for consumers. Catch Reuters Morning Bid here Sign…
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Venezuela and the resource race
President Donald Trump has been clear: one big reason for toppling Nicolás Maduro is to gain more access to Venezuela’s oil assets. But will U.S. oil companies heed his call? Host Carmel Crimmins is joined by Reuters Energy Columnist Ron Bousso to discuss how the U.S. action over the weekend will...
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A divided Fed
Is division the new normal at the U.S. central bank? President Donald Trump wants Chair Jerome Powell's successor to push through big rate cuts next year but officials are divided over the Fed's future path. Host Carmel Crimmins is joined by Reuters Fed and economics reporter Ann Saphir to talk...
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Labor market limbo
The U.S. economy is humming along nicely; the labor market not so much. Job creation is slowing and so is the supply of workers. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Reuters U.S. economics editor Dan Burns about the forces reshaping America’s workforce. Catch Reuters Morning Bid here Sign up for the...
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Trump’s economy — Live from New York
Listen to Carmel Crimmins live from New York as she discusses President Donald Trump's ambitions for the US economy. US editor Sally Buzbee and Federal Reserve correspondent Howard Schneider take the stage at Reuters NEXT to weigh the president's economic performance in his first year of this…
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Interview with European Central Bank chief economist Philip Lane
The euro zone’s economic outlook is steady – can it really stay that way? Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Philip Lane, chief economist at the European Central Bank about tariff turmoil, Fed independence and getting the euro zone out of its low-growth rut. Catch Reuters Morning Bid here Sign up for...
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Currency as a lifeline
Argentina’s Javier Milei needs dollars to keep his economic overhaul on track. The Trump administration’s financial support buys him time but doesn’t solve the problem of what to do with the peso. Argentina’s currency trades in a band to help fight inflation but critics say it is overvalued....
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Bubble talk – Part 2
What if the AI investment boom goes wrong? Host Carmel Crimmins and Reuters editor-at-large Mike Dolan reconvene to look at the real-world impact of the dash for artificial intelligence and the role national security is playing in the multi-billion dollar spending spree. Sign up for the Reuters...
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Art Heists
What are the economic forces shaping this shady trade? Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Christopher A. Marinello, the CEO and Founder of Art Recovery International, about supply and demand in the illegal market for stolen art. Plus, why rare watches are so sought-after by thieves. Sign up for the...
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Energy war
Russia and Ukraine aren't just fighting with missiles. They're waging an all-out energy war, targeting power grids and oil installations. U.S. President Donald Trump is raising the stakes with sanctions on Russia’s biggest oil companies. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Guy Faulconbridge, Russia...
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China's five-year plan
China’s top policymakers are finalizing the next five-year plan for the world’s second-largest economy. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Reuters Greater China bureau chief Kevin Krolicki on what to expect from a bureaucratic exercise that ripples around the world. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World...
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Bubble talk
Questions over the valuations of AI companies hang over the global economy as CEOs, pundits and policymakers grapple with the real impact this quantum leap in technology is having. Host Carmel Crimmins and Reuters editor-at-large Mike Dolan examine the debate around a potential AI bubble. Sign up...
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Wealth taxes
A gaping hole in the national finances is at the heart of France’s political crisis. Can a tax on the super-rich help? Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Paris-based senior correspondent Leigh Thomas and Francesco Canepa, senior European economics correspondent, about the pros and cons of taxing…
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About this show
Join Reuters journalist Carmel Crimmins every week as she and her guests pick apart a key economic principle behind the world’s news. Get beyond buzzwords and technical terms to understand the ideas and debates shaping the global economic agenda.
Hosted by
Reuters