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Macrodose

Macrodose

Planet B Productions 264 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

Macrodose is a weekly economics podcast hosted by James Meadway. Each episode provides a concise update on key economic developments and trends. The show aims to make economics accessible and engaging for a general audience.

Episodes

The Defence Spending Debate
The Defence Spending Debate Oct 14, 2026 00:15:53 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at whether the UK really should commit to an arbitrary 3.5% target for defence spending (0:39), the IMF’s world economic outlook report and what’s missing from it (7:08), and the ongoing unrest and protests against conditions in the french education system (9:08).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a
The Future Of Food Prices
The Future Of Food Prices Oct 7, 2026 00:16:43 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at how the year ahead might be a moment of massive divergence in the world economy (8:03), much needed economic policy introduced by the Greens at party conference (3:26), and an update on the road ahead for food prices as El Nino builds (0:39).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supportin
Burnham's First Conference Speech
Burnham's First Conference Speech Sep 30, 2026 00:08:21 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at Andy Burnham’s first speech to Labour party conference as prime minister, his proposals to modify the triple lock on pensions, and how he sets out his stall to solve the crisis in social care.Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts
Healey's First Hurdle
Healey's First Hurdle Sep 23, 2026 00:16:25 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at the upcoming and first budget of continuity chancellor John Healey (0:32), and the Greens’ new economic policy, published and due for discussion at the party conference (9:16).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your su
The Houthis Hit Saudi Oil Hard
The Houthis Hit Saudi Oil Hard Sep 16, 2026 00:14:50 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at a notable admission from the bank of England governor (0:37), , the Houthi movement’s capture of vast territory and bombardment of Saudi oil facilities (5:00, and the economic consequences of the continued AI buildout (10:04)Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public edu
Getting Out Of The Government Bond Game
Getting Out Of The Government Bond Game Sep 9, 2026 00:15:47 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at how the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund is cutting its holdings of US government debt (0.36), John Healey’s first major speech as Chancellor of the Exchequer (7:45), and the breakthrough of the far right AfD in east Germany (13:10)Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting fre
Dollar Dominance Tested Again
Dollar Dominance Tested Again Sep 2, 2026 00:15:21 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at how the US dollar’s prominence as the world’s reserve currency is facing more tests (0:36), and how the AI boom is under pressure with data centre power constraints to soaring chip prices (11:24).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you g
Annual Jellyfish Invasion
Annual Jellyfish Invasion Aug 19, 2026 00:09:58 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at how nuclear power plants are being shut down because of a rapidly breeding organism invading its systems (0:33), and the striking rise in government borrowing costs right across the world (3:20).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gi
New Arctic Trade Routes
New Arctic Trade Routes Aug 12, 2026 00:13:16 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at a bank that holds an unconventional asset that has come a cropper with rising temperatures (0:38), the growing commercial opportunity for new freight routes due to melting ice in the arctic (5:59), and how data centres are struggling to keep up with the demands of AI training (10:27).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.
From the Streets to the Corridors of Power
From the Streets to the Corridors of Power Aug 6, 2026 00:30:30 "If you go together and if you fight for it, then you are visible."Over the last four episodes of this series, we've heard about the daily struggles, exhaustion, the invisibility, and the structures that keep these burdens in place. In our final episode, we ask cleaners themselves what resistance looks like.From “Justice for Janitors” across the Atlantic, to the Cleaners Parliament i
Looming Food Crisis Warnings
Looming Food Crisis Warnings Aug 5, 2026 00:20:56 On this week's Macrodose, James Meadway looks at how British supermarkets warn of the looming food crisis (0:34), how Japan could be the canary in the economic coalmine (7:24), and how extreme heat is making nuclear power unreliable (14:48).Subscribe to support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Macrodose.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts
Migration, Gender, and the Fight for Dignity
Migration, Gender, and the Fight for Dignity Jul 30, 2026 00:29:52 "As a migrant working here… it's not easy, and it has never been easy."In many European countries, a staggering proportion of cleaners come from migrant backgrounds. This isn’t a coincidence. It’s a pattern shaped by discriminatory immigration policies, labour market barriers, and the systematic failure to recognise qualifications and skils gained elsewhere.In this episode, we explor

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