Dr. Cecilia Rikap | Technology, Data and Artificial Intelligence

In this episode of the Beverage Report, we interview Swati Dhingra. She's an Associate Professor at LSE, an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee and sits on the IFS' Board of Directors.What happened when the pound saw its biggest crash since Bretton Woods on referendum night? How much has Brexit cost UK workers in real wages? And why do global energy and food shocks matter so much for UK inflation?Dr Dhingra answers all these questions and more, including what it's really like to make interest rate decisions on the MPC.

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview Dr. Cecilia Rikap, Associate Professor in Economics and Head of Research, Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at UCL. How can we balance economic growth with ecological limits? What power does controlling public environmental data give Big Tech? How can stakeholders foster the progress of Artificial Intelligence?Dr. Cecilia Rikap answers these questions and more, also discussing the environmental impacts of expanding technologies.Tune in to this episode to learn more about Dr. Cecilia Rikap's research and insights on innovation management.

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview Prof. Jan Toporowski, former Professor of Economics and Finance at SOAS.How do government debt management, monetary policy, and financial systems shape economic stability and crises in today’s economy? To what extent are macroeconomic outcomes shaped by the interests and influence of dominant economic actors? What long-term impacts do defence spending and global economic linkages have on growth and resource allocation?Prof. Toporowski answers these questions and more, also discussing the modern application and takeaways of Kalecki's work.Tune in to this episode to learn more about Prof. Toporowski's research and insights at the intersection of finance and economics.

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview Prof. Eric Schneider, Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics and Political Science.What kinds of resources are most effective in helping children reach their full growth potential? How can researchers analyse data across different countries and time periods when record-keeping practices vary so widely? Why is it important to understand health statistics like case fatality rates in their broader historical and social context?Prof. Schneider answers these questions and more, also discussing the importance of addressing child malnutrition, even beyond the “thousand days consensus”. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Prof. Schneider's research and insights at the intersection of health and economics.

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview Prof. Isabela Manelici, Assistant Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science.Why do governments compete so fiercely to attract multinational firms? Do foreign multinationals actually raise productivity of domestic suppliers and worker welfare, or do the gains fall short of expectations? How Responsible Sourcing (RS) policies impact consumers and the labour market?Prof. Manelici answers these questions and more, also discussing how she plans to extend her studies further for greater generalizability and stronger external validity. She reflects on the growing role of data, collaboration, and AI tools in empirical research. Tune into this episode to learn more about Prof. Manelici’s research and journey in academia, particularly being part of organizations such as CEP and CEPR. 

In today’s episode of The Beverage Report, we are interviewing Professor Janet Currie, one of the world’s leading economists on child wellbeing and health policy.How do early-life conditions shape long-term health and opportunity? Why aren’t more families able to access social welfare programs designed to support them? What can we learn about inequality by studying children’s health, medication use, and mental well-being? And what does the future hold for research on reducing long-term disparities?Professor Currie explores these questions in detail, sharing insights from her extensive and prolific work on health economics, child development, and public policy. She also shares her hopes for how her research can continue to influence the real world, and offers advice for those looking to make an impact through their own studies.Tune in to this fascinating episode that dives into Professor Currie’s perspective on economics, and how policy, health, and inequality affect us all from the moment we are born (and in some ways, even before).

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview a leading philosopher and economist, Prof. Erik Angner. How does a philosophy and economics background shape perspective? Is it important for everyone to be made aware of basic economics to deal with the world's problems? How can we interpret happiness and the data that comes with it?Throughout the discussion Prof. Erik Angner explores the complexity beyond economic models, rather acknowledging the importance of economic intuition. Tune in to this interesting episode that reveals the deep interconnectedness between human behaviour and economics.

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview a leading economic researcher and advisor, Dr Gopi Shah Goda. Are insurance markets are inherently persistently inefficient? How can governments adapt policies to accommodate an ageing population? Are we still experiencing persistent reductions in labour supply due to COVID-19? Throughout the discussion Dr Goda references her extensive career including her year serving as a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers and her papers as a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.  Tune in to this exciting episode that reflects upon US economic policies surrounding health and an ageing population. 

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, we interview a leading expert on financial risk and the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the financial system and also one of our very own finance professors, Professor Jon Danielsson. How is AI reshaping the private financial sector, and what are the ethical dilemmas and risks it introduces, such as pro-cyclicality and market instability? What challenges arise in regulating AI-driven decisions, and how can legal frameworks address the complexities of responsibility? The conversation also explores the world of cryptocurrencies: what are their political roots, speculative nature, and potential impact on traditional financial systems? Why has current regulation taken a hands-off approach, and could this change as crypto evolves? The guest delves into the distinction between endogenous and exogenous risks in finance, shedding light on how institutional diversity can help mitigate systemic crises. Throughout the discussion, Professor Danielsson highlights the evolving landscape of financial regulation, the disruptive potential of digital currencies, and the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.  Tune in to this thought-provoking episode of the Beverage Podcast to uncover the future of finance and gain insights into the shifting dynamics of our economic systems!

In this episode of The Beverage Report Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Monica de Bolle, a distinguished economist with a remarkable journey. From her early exposure to economics through her father’s career at the Brazilian Ministry of Finance and then later the IMF to her PHD at LSE and later research in infectious diseases, Dr. De Bolle’s story offers a unique perspective on the interplay of economics and societal issues. How do institutional trust and policy reform influence hyperinflation? Can Argentina’s dollarisation plans succeed amidst deep-rooted challenges? And what lessons can economists draw from the pandemic to better prepare for future global crises? In the first part of our conversation, Dr. De Bolle reflects on her first hand experience with hyperinflation in Brazil, offering insights into the critical role of institutional reforms in addressing systemic economic instability. She evaluates Argentina’s fiscal strategies under its new leadership, the feasibility of dollarisation, and the challenges of mistrust toward the IMF. She also delves into Brazil’s political and economic landscape, examining the implications of President Lula’s renewed focus on poverty reduction programs like Bolsa Família, his stance on international conflicts, and the tensions of balancing fiscal goals with social equity. The second part of our discussion shifts to public health, where Dr. De Bolle shares her motivation for pursuing research at Harvard Medical School and obtaining a degree in infectious diseases. Drawing on her interdisciplinary expertise, she explores how economists can bridge gaps with scientists to craft effective policies for health crises and climate change. She praises the flexibility and breadth of economics as a tool for addressing real-world challenges, crediting her LSE education for fostering this perspective. Listen in as Dr. De Bolle unpacks complex issues ranging from Latin America’s economic trajectory to the intersection of economics, public health, and climate science. Her insights offer valuable lessons for anyone interested in understanding the multifaceted challenges shaping our global future.