Tell me How

In the final part of our concluding episode, the host, Roumeen Islam revisits some of our guests' key insights. We focus on three topics: the climate crisis, transport connectivity for development and Public Private partnerships.

In the first part of our final episode, the host, Roumeen Islam revisits some of our guests' key insights. We focus on digital technologies and markets, addressing the digital divide and building effective cybersecurity. The energy transition, specifically financing the transition, drivers of the renewables market, and managing the economic and social impacts.

In this episode, we learn from the experience of countries around the world the conditions that support well-functioning public-private partnerships.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of cobalt in the energy transition, global market dynamics and a very important cobalt producer: the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In this episode, we discuss how economic rents from different renewable energy sources may be valued and how these change with technology, market conditions, and policies.

In this episode, we discuss potential zero carbon bunker fuels for shipping, their development implications, the investments and regulatory incentives that may be needed.

 In this episode, we discuss the magnitude of methane emissions from active and abandoned coal mines under different scenarios and illustrate policy options to mitigate these emissions. 

In this podcast, we discuss how the adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps can reduce GHG emissions in different countries under various assumptions about the energy mix/source and consider all emissions from their production and use.

In this episode, we discuss how long-term climate change and short-term weather variability may influence migration patterns and how country context is important in determining where to invest in public infrastructure.

In this episode, we discuss the distributional impact of a carbon tax and how to design packages that compensate the people who are affected.

This episode discusses the role of cyber insurance in strengthening cybersecurity outcomes and how the regulatory framework may affect the demand for cyber insurance.

In this episode, we discuss various types of public-private partnerships to support the delivery of public services, highlighting some important distinguishing features of these arrangements.

In this episode we discuss the global warming impact of methane and several ways- some with zero net costs- in which this impact can be reduced.

In this final episode, we close the discussion on the relevance of mergers for competition policy authorities and focus on the various ways countries implement policy in the face of uncertainty and how they differ from each.

In this second episode on Big Tech mergers, Prof. Katz and I continue our discussion on how competition authorities evaluate the benefits and costs of mergers and acquisitions, the types of indicators that matter and different views that policymakers have on the consequences of mergers.

In this first episode of three on BigTech mergers, we discuss the impact of BigTech mergers and acquisitions on the market and on consumers; how should competition authorities think about developments in these markets if they seek to support competition and innovation?

In this episode, we discuss the impact of digitalization on efficiency, productivity, the environment and the distribution of gains in the agri-food industry. The regulatory framework governing competition policy, property rights and information disclosure are essential to the resulting market structure.

In this episode, we discuss the digitalization of maritime shipping focusing on the benefits in terms of faster and better service, the regulatory changes needed to advance digitalization, the types of jobs that would be created and importantly, the need for good cybersecurity measures.

In this episode, we discuss the ships that carry grains, metals and minerals from where they are found or produced, to where they are needed. Shipping prices rise and fall with changing demand for goods; and changing supplies. Blocked passages, recessions or melting ice all affect where these ships can go, and how fast and cheaply we can buy the commodities we use every day.

This episode brings to light the growing debt owed to electric utilities by households and small business, the choices people make when financially constrained and also the impact these bills are having on the financial condition of electricity providers. The discussion ends with some suggestions on how to handle the pandemic-induced debt burden.

Knowledge on the impact of climate change on our lives has been increasing- more data will deepen our analysis and models. This podcast discusses some of the elements of human society and biological processes that are hard to model and their implications for climate change. Guest Prof. Charles Kolstad also suggests areas for further research.

Commerce, the exchange of goods and services, is at the heart of economic prosperity. Goods get to us because roads and rail connect us to different places, supporting supply chains. Quality infrastructure built in the right place is important. But just building infrastructure is not enough. What is equally essential is how that infrastructure is used to provide services: the trucking, haulage, rail, and other services that carry the goods. In this episode, we discuss how the market for road infrastructure services - can facilitate or, impede the functioning of supply chains.

This episode builds on Episode 4 which presented the economic analysis of cybersecurity markets and the policy framework governing stakeholder actions. This episode considers the role of firms/organizations; it points to actions that government and businesses can take to ensure that their vital interests are secure from cyberattacks. It presents different types of risks that companies face and the tools to mitigate them, paying special attention to the interaction of business and technical needs. It also addresses the timing of investments in cybersecurity in an increasingly digitalized world.

An increasing focus on clean energy is driving up demand for minerals and metals needed for its production. Yet, mining itself can be done in ways that harm the environment, harm communities and even contribute to global warming. Policies can ensure it doesn’t do so. This podcast discusses how.

Universal access to affordable, and reliable electricity is essential to every aspect of the modern economy. Yet, many lack this service. In 2020, recessions in countries around the world had a negative impact on investments, electricity providers, and their clients, slowing progress in meeting SDG7 goals. This podcast discusses how 2020 changed the way we approach SDG7 and the policies needed to move forward as growth resumes.

What exactly is the social cost of carbon? What should policymakers do in the face of uncertainty surrounding its value?  Is a global carbon tax a good response to global warming? This episode addresses these questions. It considers the problems policymakers face when confronting a range of potential catastrophes – as happened in 2020. Should countries plan for each potential disaster as a separate event?

Innovations developed in one country take time to be adopted/used in others, sometimes decades. But platform business models in mobility /transport services have been adopted in many countries and in various uses. What about them makes this possible and can a first mover face effective competition from newcomers? The answers are evolving as are the policies countries adopt to guide outcomes.

Firms, governments and people have racked up debt in the pandemic — and many Infrastructure sectors are hard hit too. Debt needs to be managed well for a solid recovery supported by private financing. In this episode, World Bank Chief Economist Carmen Reinhart has an exclusive chat with Roumeen to share insights on how to go forward.

Did you know that e-mobility is a pit stop on the road to decarbonization? You need multiple stakeholders to commit to clean energy and work together to reform the transportation sector. A good policy framework, supporting competition and innovation for efficient and green mass transportation is needed.  In this episode, Roumeen Islam catches up with Bianca Bianchi Alves, urban transportation expert, to find out how.

Many of us are no strangers to cyberattacks. Places we shop, bank, eat, and conduct online transactions are routinely the target of hackers. Consumers, governments, and businesses are all vulnerable as we are increasingly dependent on the internet. What can we do to make our economies more cybersecure? Find out in this new podcast as Roumeen Islam catches up with Professor Tyler Moore, Tandy Professor of Cyber Security and Information Assurance in the Tandy School of Computer Science at the University of Tulsa and Editor of the Journal of Cybersecurity. 

Battery storage could make the dream of continuous power supply a reality. It gives utilities the flexibility to store electricity from variable wind and solar power. Like Lego, you can use batteries to put together different pieces to create bigger systems-and innovation is changing the limits to what can be done. Chandrasekar Govindarajulu, expert on battery storage, discusses its potential and the financial and regulatory frameworks that need to be in place for battery storage adoption and use.

Inequalities in access to digital services have been highlighted during the pandemic at the same time as has the need to be connected. How can countries go about bridging the digital divide?  Tim Kelly, an expert on regulation of the digital sector, talks about how policy and regulation can support affordable access in countries around the world.

As countries shift towards low carbon energy sources, the livelihoods of people in mono-industry coal mining regions is uncertain. In the global energy transition, it is important to ensure a fair, just transition that enables opportunities for all. In this episode, Christopher Sheldon, expert on the topic discusses how the right policies can help unlock viable economic opportunities while making the solution socially and environmentally sustainable.