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Foreign Policy economics columnist Adam Tooze, a history professor and a popular author, is encyclopedic about basically everything: from the COVID shutdown, to climate change, to pasta sauce. On our new podcast, Tooze and FP deputy editor Cameron Abadi will look at two data points each week that explain the world: one drawn from the week’s headlines and the other from just about anywhere else Tooze takes us. Check out Adam Tooze’s column at https://foreignpolicy.com/author/adam-tooze/.
The Economic Philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a towering figure in the history of American civil rights. But he also had an economic philosophy, and he expressed his ideas late in life about capitalism, communism and the right path for the United States. As Americans observe King's birthday in the coming week, Adam and Cameron discuss his approach to economic policy and justice.
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38:3713/01/2023
What FTX's Collapse Tells Us About The Bahamas
How did The Bahamas become a global center for money laundering, tax avoidance, and financial engineering? Adam and Cameron take up this question following the collapse of FTX, which had its headquarters in the island country. Also on the show: Is the fusion revolution really here?
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34:2406/01/2023
Three Economic Stories to Watch in 2023
On this episode, Adam and Cameron discuss three things that could roil the world's economy in 2023: the downturn in the U.S. housing market, the yield curve control of the Bank of Japan, and the debt crisis in Africa.
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39:3030/12/2022
Is Biden Killing the World Trade Organization?
The United States is challenging the very authority of the World Trade Organization—which it helped establish decades ago. Adam and Cameron discuss why and what a weakened WTO would mean for the world.
Also on the show: Why Americans give more to charity than anyone else in the world (hint: it's less about altruism and more about how Americans organize themselves).
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41:5623/12/2022
Ukraine So Far
Adam and Cameron look back at the first 10 months of Russia's war in Ukraine and its economic impact around the world. They also discuss the economics of...snow—just in time for the winter.
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43:5616/12/2022
Will Qatar Always Be Rich?
Natural gas has made Qatar among the wealthiest countries in the world. On this episode, Adam and Cameron discuss whether global warming and other factors will change the country's economic outlook. Also on the show: ChatGPT is pushing AI into the mainstream. What does it mean for labor markets?
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41:2509/12/2022
China's Zero COVID Fiasco
China was one of the first countries to produce a COVID vaccine but nearly three years into the pandemic, only 50 percent of its population is vaccinated. Why is that? And why did Chinese leaders opt for lockdowns instead of a more aggressive vaccination campaign? On this episode, Cameron and Adam unpack the issue and assess what sustained protests could mean for China and the world.
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32:5602/12/2022
Thanksgiving Economics Revealed
Ever want to know why turkeys are actually cheaper around Thanksgiving or the origins of Black Friday? Get ready to be the smartest person at the holiday table as Adam reveals some of the lesser known economic histories of Thanksgiving. In the second segment Adam and Cameron share what they've been most thankful for this past year.
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27:1023/11/2022
Unpacking the FTX Crypto Collapse
This week on the show, hosts Cameron Abadi and Adam Tooze analyze how the $32 billion cryptocurrency company FTX went bankrupt and its implications for crypto more generally. They also discuss inflation’s surprisingly small role in the U.S. midterm election results.
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34:4318/11/2022
Farewell to the French Philosopher Bruno Latour
Adam and Cameron discuss the work of French philosopher Bruno Latour, who died last month. Latour was not an economist but his ideas touched on related issues, including climate change, economic growth, and the relationship between scientific inquiry and facts. His work had a profound influence on Adam.
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27:5011/11/2022
Can Lula Save the Amazon?
On this episode, Cameron and Adam discuss the challenges facing Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the new leader of Brazil. Also on the show, a report card for Olaf Scholz, who began serving a year ago as Germany's chancellor.
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37:2304/11/2022
Tooze Unplugged
This week we bring you a live recording of Ones and Tooze, taped at the Caveat Theatre in New York City. The show begins with a segment on Adam himself—how he came to be an economic historian and what political and philosophical tenets underpin his writing. Cameron and Adam also discuss the malign influence of billionaire Peter Thiel on American politics, and the declining importance of Wall Street as a place to hang out your shingle.
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01:16:3828/10/2022
Liz Truss, Halloween, and Listener Questions
This week on the show, Cameron and Adam discuss Liz Truss's resignation, and the economics of Halloween. They also address listener questions.
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35:2421/10/2022
The Nobel Economics Prize Rewards Bank Run Breakthroughs
In what's becoming an annual traditional, Adam and Cameron examine the Nobel Economics Prize. This year former U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke as well as economists Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig won for their research on preventing bank runs. Adam notes that while the study of bank runs isn't new, the work of this trio helped provide greater understanding of the macroeconomic forces behind banking.
In the second segment, the two reflect on the recent protests in Iran and the current role of women in the country. They also take a broader view of the Iranian economy and its tremendous potential if it were to allow full participation from women and was no longer under international sanctions.
Want to see Adam and Cameron's live show but won't be in NYC on October 25th? Click here to buy tickets to watch the live stream or on demand for a full week afterward.
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35:2214/10/2022
Europe's Energy Crisis: How Bad and How Long?
Winter is coming and Europe is facing an energy crisis that people are calling "generational." Gas prices are now eight times what they were on average over the past 10 years and eight times more expensive than in the United States. On the show this week, Adam and Cameron discuss how bad it could get and why next year could be even worse.
Hey Ones and Tooze Listeners in NYC, come check out our first live show on Oct 25th at 7pm. Click here to purchase tickets. Not in NYC? No problem! Click here to sign up for a virtual ticket.
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32:4607/10/2022
Britain's Economic Freefall
The economic news from Britain could hardly be worse. In the weeks since Liz Truss became prime minister, the British pound has fallen to historic lows, financial markets lost $500 billion, and the IMF has issued warnings. Adam and Cameron explain what happened and where things go from here.
Also: India's economy is surging but why hasn't New Delhi been able to match Beijing's economic success of the past few decades?
Hey Ones and Tooze Listeners in NYC, come check out our first live show on Oct 25th at 7pm. Click here to purchase tickets. Not in NYC? No problem! Click here to sign up for a virtual ticket.
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47:0330/09/2022
Is Italy on the Verge of Returning to Fascism?
In today's episode hosts Cameron Abadi and Adam Tooze preview the upcoming Italian election and the rise of Giorgia Meloni. Her party, Brothers of Italy, is leading in the polls and has a lineage that connects it directly to former Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. They also examine the current appeal of far-right rhetoric in Italy and the long term implications a Meloni government would have on the country's economy.
In the second segment the two dissect the economic history of Australia, from its beginnings as British penal colony to its more recent decades-long run of positive growth.
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38:3823/09/2022
Can Ukraine Win the War Yet Lose Their Economy?
In this episode hosts Cameron Abadi and Adam Tooze take a look at how Ukraine's war against Russia is straining the country's finances and the increasing pressure the US and EU will face to save the country from financial collapse. In the second segment, in the wake of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the two examine the UK's financial relationship with its monarchy and how it's evolved over the centuries.
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36:3316/09/2022
Is China's Economy in Trouble?
China's economy is projected to grow by four percent this year, a rate that many countries would envy. But with China's track record, that number could actually be a harbinger of bad news. On today's show, Adam and Cameron discuss the mechanics of the Chinese economy and why it's unlike any other in the world.
Also on the show: Golf has been described as a game of strenuous idleness. How did it become an $84 billion industry in the United States?
And... Adam and Cameron will be doing a live taping of the show in New York City on October 25th! This is the podcast's first-ever live show, at an intimate venue on the Lower East Side. Seating is limited! Follow the link for tickets (livestream available as well). https://www.caveat.nyc/events/ones-and-tooze-live-10-25-2022
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36:1309/09/2022
The Cost of Space Exploration
As NASA prepares for new missions Adam and Cameron look at the cost of space exploration and how America views its return investing in the space program. The two also discuss what a possible lunar economy might look like. In the second segment Adam answers listener questions on everything from how to get the rich to pay their fair share to the economics of union organizing.
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32:3802/09/2022
Why the World's Top Economists are Going to Jackson Hole
Hosts Adam Tooze and Cameron Abadi look at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium taking place this week and talk about its history and its significance in influencing world economics. And in the second segment the two discuss the massive teacher shortage occuring in the United States this year and how teacher salaries have failed to keep pace with the salaries of similarly educated professionals.
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35:2426/08/2022
The Crazy Economics of Book Publishing
For the news data point this week Cameron and Adam look at the proposed merger of Penguin Random House with Simon & Schuster as well as the tragic attack on acclaimed novelist Salman Rushdie. The two then discuss the overall state of the publishing industry and how digitization has impacted the business model for major publishing houses as well as their relationship with libraries.
In the second segment the two discuss the astronomical inflation currently underway in Argentina. Adam gives a historical look back at the Argentine economy and details the decline that has lasted for nearly a century. The two also talk about how uncertainty in the price of food has had a negative impact not only on GDP but mental health as well.
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34:3519/08/2022
Rise of the Green Industrial Complex?
On the show this week: The Inflation Reduction Act isn't the climate change revolution that some Democrats had hoped for. But it could signal a shift in the power balance between the fossil fuel industry and the renewable energy industry.
Also: How much will it cost to rebuild Ukraine when the war finally ends and who will foot the bill?
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37:1212/08/2022
Is A Strong US Dollar A Good Thing?
In this episode Cameron and Adam discuss how the US dollar has reached near parity with the Euro and is the strongest it's been in nearly two decades. The two review what that means for exports and imports and what it says about the overall strength of the US economy. Plus a look at how some Americans are finding it cheaper to buy homes in Europe rather than the US and what that says about the housing markets at home and abroad.
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39:3805/08/2022
Stagflation Nation?
On this episode, Adam and Cameron discuss stagflation—possibly the most ominous portmanteau in the English language. It's the double whammy of inflation combined with zero or negative economic growth. How can the two coexist? And what does stagflation mean for the world economy?
Later on the show, they talk about dinosaur bones and the economics of Jurassic Park—if it could actually exist.
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34:5829/07/2022
Why do Italian Governments Collapse so Often?
With the latest political turmoil in Italy, Adam and Cameron consider a bewildering data point: The country has had 67 governments in the past 75 years. Why are Italian politics so chronically unstable and what does the economy have to do with it?
Later in the show: The economics of food insecurity.
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35:5722/07/2022
The State of the Saudi Economy
As U.S. President Joe Biden visits Saudi Arabia, where he hopes to get more oil, Adam Tooze and Cameron Abadi look at the broader state of the Saudi economy. Then, Adam and Cam answer a first batch of listener-recorded questions. Expect a lot more soon.
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35:2515/07/2022
What Fluctuating Oil and Gas Prices Mean for the World.
Adam and Cameron look at dropping prices for crude oil and forecast what that might mean for the global economy. And they take a broader look at energy consumption and what can be done to curb it in times of crisis. In the second segment the two take a deep dive into playgrounds and the history of how they've been valued.
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35:0808/07/2022
What NATO Expansion Means for Europe and the World
NATO is enlarging its rapid response force from 40,000 to 300,000, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine—a huge expansion. But who will foot the bill and how will the force operate in practice? Adam and Cameron discuss these and other questions in the first segment of the episode. Then, to mark the July 4th holiday, they dive into the history and economics of...hot dogs.
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35:5801/07/2022
How Flying Got to be so Miserable
On this episode, Adam and Cameron explain why flight disruptions and cancellations are the new normal. They also discuss the economics of summer vacation.
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32:5524/06/2022
The Fed Interest Rate Hike
It has been a rocky week for the U.S. economy, with record high inflation reports and the Federal Reserve increasing benchmark interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point. This is the steepest hike in close to thirty years. In this episode, Adam and Cam make sense of this spike and ponder what the Biden administration should do to curb inflation – if anything.
Later on, they set their eyes on Colombia, which has a presidential election on Sunday. For the first time in Colombia, there's a high likelihood they may elect a left-wing president. Adam and Cam analyze why right-wing economics have been such a large part of Colombian history and what presidential candidate Gustavo Petro’s proposed policies could do for the country.
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35:5517/06/2022
Why the Ukraine War has Germany Worried About Bunkers
In this episode, Cameron and Adam dive deep into the economics of bunkers. Mostly seen as relics of the Cold War, they now are gaining renewed interest with the conflict in Ukraine. Then, the two discuss the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago in the North Atlantic ocean. Despite its tiny size and dreary climate, it has managed to thrive economically with a robust fishing industry.
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34:1010/06/2022
How Banning Abortion Affects the Economic Lives of Women
With the U.S. Supreme Court apparently poised to overturn abortion rights, Adam and Cameron discuss the potential economic impact on women. Later on the show, they look at the economic indicators that characterized the 1970s—inflation, high energy prices, and slower growth—and discuss whether our national feeling of déjà vu is warranted.
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37:2703/06/2022
The Impact of School Shootings
It was hard not to think about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. In this week’s show, Cam and Adam look at where funding for school safety actually goes and what emerging research tells us about the long-term impact of school shootings on children’s futures. Later in the show, with Adam in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, Adam and Cam consider what makes the Swiss economy special.
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31:4727/05/2022
What Does a Crypto Crash Portend for the Economy?
With the collapse of stablecoin and the blow to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin hosts Adam Tooze and Cameron Abadi take another look at crypto markets and parse out what's behind their instability. Plus, a look at the link between air conditioning and productivity and why climate change is making cooling technology increasingly vital.
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35:4420/05/2022
Why Low Unemployment Isn’t Better News
The U.S. unemployment rate is 3.6 percent, the lowest it’s been since the pandemic began in March 2020. So why aren’t we celebrating that? Adam and Cam dig into the other things bumming people out about the economy, as well as how low unemployment and inflation impact each other. In this first segment, Adam and Cam also answer the show’s first-ever listener audio question! After that, they look at Africa’s population boom and the economic questions that come along with it.
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34:0413/05/2022
Why the U.S. Stock Market is Tanking
The U.S. stock market has dropped more in recent days than any other period since March 2020, the beginning of the pandemic. Adam and Cameron analyze why this is happening, beyond obvious reasons like the Fed interest rate increasing, and how much we should worry about it. Later in the show, they look at the economics behind the arms race in the war in Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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34:5106/05/2022
Bonus: Why is May Day so Violent in Berlin?
This wonderful, nearly ten minute tangent did not quite make its way into our latest episode. But we thought many of you would appreciate Cameron and Adam's Berliner discussion. So here's that whole segment as a bonus May Day special.
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10:0630/04/2022
How the Labor Movement Got Its Day
In this episode, Cameron and Adam look ahead to the upcoming May Day celebration and discuss the roots of this holiday as well as the current state of the labor movement. In the second segment, they talk about the economic impact of the massive outpouring of refugees from Ukraine both for Ukraine and for the host countries receiving Ukrainians.
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33:4529/04/2022
Who Wins and Who Loses With Inflation
In this episode Cameron and Adam discuss how inflation is having an impact on wide swaths of the US economy and what tools are available to curb the rise. Adam also looks back at past inflation crisis to help decipher what course may be most prudent this time around. In the 2nd segment, the two discuss the critical state of Sri Lanka's economy which has suspended payments of its 51 billion dollars of foreign debt. Adam says Sri Lanka's crisis may be a harbinger for other developing economy which are still reeling from the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.
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34:2722/04/2022
Why the American Tax System is Such a Mess
On paper, at least, the American tax code is one of the most progressive in the world. In reality, it's deeply unfair and inefficient. On this episode, Adam and Cameron discuss how it got this way and how it compares to the systems of other countries.
Also, to mark Easter Sunday, Cameron and Adam discuss the financial state of the Catholic Church.
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30:1815/04/2022
The Fall and Rise of the Russian Ruble
Western sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine quickly led the Ruble to lose more than 45 percent of its value. But these days, the Russian currency is back to its pre-war value. Cameron and Adam explain the turnaround and discuss what it means for the war.
Also on the show: The economics of canned fish.
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36:2408/04/2022
The French Election
The first round of the French presidential election is coming up on April 10. On the latest episode of Ones and Tooze, Adam and Cameron analyze what French President Emmanuel Macron’s views really are – and what it says about how France has changed.
Also, there’s an April Fools’ Day special: a segment on the economics of humor.
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36:1401/04/2022
The Economics Behind Mariupol
More than 100,000 people currently want to evacuate the besieged city of Mariupol in Ukraine. On this episode of Ones and Tooze, Adam Tooze and Cameron Abadi look at the significance of this port city to Ukraine and Russia’s military campaign.
Also on the show, Tooze and Abadi commemorate the Godfather’s 50th anniversary.
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34:5025/03/2022
The Collapse of China's Zero-COVID Policy
More than 50 million people are living under lockdown restrictions in China amid a dramatic surge of COVID cases. Adam and Cameron discuss the potential economic impact for countries around the world.
Also, just in time for spring, a segment on the global flower industry, worth some $8.5 billion.
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29:3518/03/2022
How Rising Oil Prices Will Change the World as We Know It
As the war in Ukraine entered its third week, the price of a barrel of oil peaked at $130, its highest since 2008. The pain is already spreading around the world—to people who rely on gas to get to work or oil to heat their homes. On the show this week, Adam and Cameron discuss the possible longterm effects of the spike, including the impact on inflation and climate change.
Also on the show: Don't bet against New Yorkers. In the first month since gambling became legal in the state, residents put down a record $2 billion in wagers.The real winners are the tax authorities.
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34:0611/03/2022
The War on Russia's Economy
On this episode, Adam and Cameron discuss the sanctions Europe and the United States have imposed on Russia's economy in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The penalties are unprecedented in scope but will they bring an early end to the war?
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32:1504/03/2022
How Biden's Sanctions Against Russia Fall Short
On this episode, Cameron and Adam discuss the sanctions President Biden has imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine and the gaping hole that allows Russia to continue exporting oil and gas.
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34:1225/02/2022
Could a Group of Truckers Actually Hurt the Canadian Economy?
Adam and Cameron take a closer look at the economics of the Canadian trucker protest to see how much damage one blockade can inflict on the entire Canadian economy and why a singular bridge has such outsized importance for trade between the US and Canada. In the second segment, a look at the Winter Olympics from an economic standpoint; how beneficial are they for the host country, the IOC, and individual athletes? And how much is an Olympic gold medal actually worth?
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34:3818/02/2022
Is the U.S. Economy Really Booming?
The U.S. economy grew close to 6% in 2021, the strongest year in nearly four decades. On this episode of Ones and Tooze, Adam Tooze and Cameron Abadi analyze how we have bounced back from the pandemic recession, and what ways the economy is still falling short. Spoiler: It’s more than inflation.
Also on this show, a Valentine’s Day special: Tooze and Abadi look into why perfume is booming and how the scent industry actually works.
Save 15% on FP subscriptions. Visit https://foreignpolicy.com/subscribe/ and enter code TOOZE at checkout to claim this offer.
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34:4911/02/2022