The Economy in Plain English with Robbie Mochrie
Hear Dr Robbie Mochrie discuss how to think like an Economist, and challenge what you think you know about Economics.
Past Event: 3rd June 2024
Journalist Clare English and David Hume Institute Director, Susan Murray were joined in conversation by Dr Robbie Mochrie to discuss, How to Think Like an Economist - Great Economists Who Shaped the World and What They Can Teach Us.
Robbie speaks about how economic thinking emerged, long before there were economists; that good economics is about much more than the economy; how the greatest economic thinkers have enabled us to see the world differently, and how we can make it better. And all in plain English!
This event was broadcast live, and can be viewed on LinkedIn, X and Youtube.
Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker - May 2024 Insights
Catch up with results and insights from Wave 11 of the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker (USET) - a quarterly survey of over 2000 people in Scotland.
This event launched the latest findings in our quarterly research series. Our regular survey with the Diffley Partnership helps us to understand and monitor changes in economic attitudes and public opinion over time.
Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager at the Diffley Partnership, presented the latest findings. The recent data shows that healthcare and the cost of living are at the forefront of voters’ minds ahead of the General Election.
We were delighted to be joined by Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at NatWest Group and João Sousa, Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute who give their reflections and insights on the results.
The event was kindly hosted by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Video credit: Allan Lloyds, Live to Air.
The Economy in Plain English with Torsten Bell
Torsten Bell discusses the problems facing the UK's economy and where we go from here - when will the economy be great again?
Past event: 13th May 2024
Hear journalist Clare English and David Hume Institute Director, Susan Murray in conversation with Torsten Bell, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation. He has a background in economic policy, with a current research focus on how to renew the UK’s economic strategy to raise growth and reduce inequality.
In this episode, Torsten discussed his latest analysis from his new book, Great Britain? Described as “a treasure trove of enlightening and original analysis, and a much-needed antidote to the pervading sense that the country’s decline is inevitable or irreversible”.
We also discussed why Britain needs to stop living off its past and invest in the future; how complicated stories are told to justify the lack of investment; and how we need to pay attention to the economy as it is, not as people imagine it to be. Britain has a broad based service economy - if we live off our past, we will continue to remain poor.
This session was streamed live on LinkedIn, X and Youtube.
Modern Diplomacy: in conversation with Baroness Catherine Ashton
Hear Baroness Catherine Ashton in a fireside conversation providing insights into her long career working at the top of international diplomacy.
Past event: 26th March 2024
So much of modern-day diplomacy still takes place behind closed doors, away from cameras and prying eyes. So what does this vital role really look like in today’s world –and what does it take to do it well?
The David Hume Institute, in partnership with EICC Live were delighted to host Baroness Catherine Ashton for a fireside conversation providing insights into her long career working at the top of international diplomacy.
From 2009 to 2014, Cathy Ashton was the EU’s first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, effectively Europe's foreign policy supremo responsible for coordinating the EU's response to international crises. Arriving in Brussels as a relative novice to international diplomacy, she faced the challenge of representing the views and values of 28 nations during one of the most turbulent times in living memory. Decades-old certainties were swept away in days. Hope rose and fell, often in a matter of hours.
From the frozen conflict of Ukraine to the Serbia-Kosovo deal, there were challenges, failures and moments of success. She encountered dictators and war criminals, and witnessed the aftermath of natural disasters, military action, and political instability. Working with US politicians and counterparts including John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Burns, she negotiated historic settlements, such as the Iran nuclear deal. An ‘honest broker’, she navigated the needs of opposing politicians to chart a path towards collaboration and stability.
Baroness Ashton took us behind the scenes, sharing what worked and what didn’t, and how it felt to be in ‘the room where it happened’. From Serbia to Somalia, Libya to Haiti, she offers essential insight into how modern diplomacy works, examining the tools needed to find our way through the many challenges we face today.
Further reading:
And then what? Inside Stories of 21st-Century Diplomacy by Catherine Ashton
The Economy in Plain English with Diane Coyle
Hear Professor Diane Coyle discuss “What is economics and what it should be” with journalist Clare English and our Director Susan Murray.
Past event: 25th March 2024
In our fifth conversation of 2024, Journalist Clare English and Director of the David Hume Institute, Susan Murray discuss the Economy in Plain English with Diane Coyle, Professor of Public Policy and Co-Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge.
This time we discussed: “What Economics Is and What It Should be”.
The session was streamed live on LinkedIn, X and Youtube.
Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker - February 2024 Insights
Catch up with the February 2024 results from the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker (USET). Hear the results and reflections from guest panellists and the audience.
Past event: 28th February 2024
This event launched the latest results from the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker (USET) - a quarterly survey of over 2000 people in Scotland undertaken in partnership with the Diffley partnership.
Mark Diffley, Director of the Diffley Partnership presented the latest findings which track economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.
Mark was joined by Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute and Kevin Havelock, Regional Director Corporate, Commercial and Business Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland to reflect on the results which came a week ahead of the Spring Budget at Westminister.
The event was kindly hosted by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
About the speakers:
Mark Diffley, Director and Founder of the Diffley Partnership
Mark has spent 25 years delivering research, polling and insights for organisations in all sectors, including for governments, the third sector and companies across the business sector.
After working with a number of agencies in the research sector, Mark set up Diffley Partnership in 2017 and works with a brilliant team in Edinburgh to ensure that our research and insights are of the highest quality, enabling his clients to make important decisions with confidence.
Mairi Spowage, Professor of Practice and Director of the Fraser Allander Institute
Mairi’s areas of expertise include economic policy, economic statistics, national accounting, public sector finances, and economic and fiscal forecasting. Mairi leads on the Institute's work with various partners, including those in business, the public and third sector.
Mairi is leading on various projects to improve economic measurement and the use of economic insights to improve policy decisions in Scotland and beyond. She also leads the programme to encourage graduates into careers in analysis through the Economic Futures programme.
Mairi is on the Leadership team of the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy and the Economics Statistics Centre of Excellence. Previously, Mairi was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Head of National Accounts at the Scottish Government, and has over 15 years of experience working in different areas of statistics and analysis, including transport, household surveys and performance measurement.
Kevin Havelock, Regional Director Corporate, Commercial and Business Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland
Kevin joined the Royal Bank of Scotland as a graduate trainee over 25 years ago, working in various teams before specialising in relationship management and moving into Corporate and Business Banking. He has a degree in Politics from the University of Aberdeen and an MBA from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot Watt University. Kevin is also currently a Governing Council Member of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and previously served for six years as Treasurer of the charity, Families Outside.
Read more about the research.
The Economy in Plain English with Andrea Barry
Dr Andrea Barry, Principal Economist from the Youth Futures Foundation discusses the Economy in Plain English with journalist Clare English .
Past event: 19th February 2024
In our fourth conversation of 2024, Journalist Clare English and Director of the David Hume Institute, Susan Murray discuss the Economy in Plain English with Dr Andrea Barry, Principal Economist from the Youth Futures Foundation.
- What is a Principal Economist?
- What's their role in a youth organisation?
- And then the big question, does the economy cause intergenerational tension?
The session was streamed live on LinkedIn, X and Youtube. As always we promised you a lively conversation and interesting insights into the economy and economics - and all in plain English!
#economy #youngpeople #economics #intergenerationalwealth
The Economy in Plain English with Arun Advani
Hear Journalist Clare English discuss diversity, economics and tax with Dr Arun Advani.
Past event: 5th February 2024
Hear former BBC Journalist Clare English discuss tax and the economy with Dr Arun Advani. Arun is co-chair of the Discover Economics campaign, aiming to increase the diversity of people who study and work in economics.
He studies issues of inequality, tax compliance, and tax design, with a focus on those with high incomes or wealth. He is a Commissioner at the Wealth Tax Commission and also work on issues of environmental taxation, economic development, migration, and tax in low- and middle-income countries.
A month ahead of the likely tax cuts in the Spring Budget, this is a good opportunity to take time out and hear one the the UK's leading experts on tax systems.
The Economy in Plain English was streamed Live on LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
More Information
David Hume Institute event: Diversity and econmics: what do the data tell us?, 2021
David Hume Institute event: Talking Tax with Dr Arun Advani, Dr Andy Summers and Charlotte Barbour, 8th July 2020
Incubating Success: in conversation with Steven Drost
Steven Drost and Matt Farrugia reflect on global developments in tech incubators and why so many countries are pinning their hopes on tech for economic growth.
Past event: Monday 29th January 2024
Catch up with Steven Drost and Matt Farrugia discussing reflections on Steven’s recent visit to China, kindly hosted by the University of Edinburgh Business School.
Steven was invited to speak in Lingang and visit Shanghai at the World Top-performing Incubator Forum 2023, as well as discussing progress on building the ecosystem in the UK.
While his head was still fizzing with reflections and lessons learned we wanted to provide an opportunity to hear his thoughts first hand.
Some of Steven’s initial observations:
Ecosystem building is a massive global concern; it’s the way most economic development will happen
Everyone he met locally was open, kind, keen to collaborate
He had to rethink / relearn what “build it, and they will come” means
In China lots of creative deeptech thinking and doing going on and my goodness, are things turned around quickly
WeChat is pretty awesome (hot take of 2023, I know..)
With Steven working at the heart of Codebase there is no-one better to find out what is happening at the UK’s largest tech incubator and if we are making progress on the recommendations from the 2021 Logan review.
Steven was reunited with Matt Farugia for the conversation - recreating the successful Startupification podcast.
For anyone interested in economic growth, startups, investments and global development in the tech world - this event is a must!
About Steven Drost
Steven is a two time entrepreneur, once successful, once failed. He has extensive experience of hiring, building revenues, selling companies, fund raising, and more. He has the scars and war stories to prove it.
He is currently the Chief Strategy Officer at CodeBase and sees many startups per year. He loves to help business grow and network founders with peers, customers and investors. He is a former Trustee of the David Hume Institute and current Trustee of the Edinburgh Futures Institute.
About Matt Farrugia
Matt is a 3-time founder with both technology and commercial experience in early stage tech startups.
He is mentor and fractional advisor for a number of Scottish and international startups at the preseed and seed stages - as well as an experienced podcaster.