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On 5th July the Treasury Select Committee held an evidence session on the hot topic of inflation. Their witnesses included: Professor Sir Charles Bean, Professor of Economics, London School of Economics (LSE), Former member, Monetary Policy Committee, Former member, OBR Budget Responsibility Committee; Nina Skero, Chief Executive, Centre for Economics and Business Research; Stephen King, Senior Economic Adviser, HSBC; Dr Sushil Wadhwani CBE, Chief Investment Officer, PGIM Wadhwani, Former member, Monetary Policy Committee. This episode covers the first 50 minutes of the hearing and its conclusion with year-end predictions for interest rates — the full podcast is two hours long and can be accessed via https://www.shareradio.co.uk/podcasts/treasury-select-committee-evidence-session-on-inflation-full-length-07-jul-23/PodcastPlayer

For the past century, cities have centered around work. What happens when that’s no longer the case? Deidre Woollard and Matt Argersinger discuss what downtowns might look like when they become more than just “containers for work”, how different REITs are approaching the new commercial real estate landscape, and the promise and problems of “15-minute cities”. Companies and REITs mentioned: CRM, ARE, WE, PEAK, DEA. Host - Deidre Woollard; Guest - Matt Argersinger

Universal basic income is a controversial idea and not just because it's money for nothing. Paying everyone a set amount every month as a baseline level of income has intrigued economists and central bank geeks for years. Supporters say it has the power to improve physical and mental health and the economy and society, but critics say it's the start of a slippery slope to state dependency and control. A new proposed trial for 30 people in the UK to get £1,600 a month has put the topic back on the agenda. So — is universal basic income a good or bad idea? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss it on this episode. Also — why aren't our energy bills lower if wholesale prices have plummeted? What can you do if you are caught in the mortgage storm? And finally, which UK shares have done best and worst so far this year?

The Bank of England’s bumper 0.5% rate hike this week was the 13th rise in a row. After sitting on their hands for more than a decade, ratesetters have been shaken out of their slumbers by an inflation storm. By historic standards 5% is not high for interest rates, but unfortunately for borrowers we also started from a historic low and have gone from 0.1% to here in just 18 months. The belated headlong rush into raising rates is also the exact opposite of what the Bank of England spent years assuring homeowners would happen: the party line used to be ‘gradual and limited’. The Bank is hiking rates to try to crush inflation but at the same time this affects a much smaller slice of homeowners than it once did and rapid rise in mortgage costs is crushing a generation of homeowners. So, was another rate rise a wise move? How bad is the pain for borrowers? Is this not a patch on the '80s, or just as bad? Has the Bank of England even given its rate rises long enough to take effect? On this rate rise special podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert tackle all that and more.

Andrew Griffith MP, Economic Secretary to HM Treasury, wants to see a greater appetite for risk to encourage investment in British business. It's good to hear such a positive approach, but let's make it quoted-equity focused; debt and private equity are not the way forward for long-term success. Background music: 'The Nexus Riddim' by Konrad OldMoney

The shining towers and ivory walls of the City of London — many of our financial trials and tribulations can be traced back to October 1986, when the clear distinction between self-interest and acting in the interests of customers was abruptly brought to an end in the 'Big Bang'. Among those who saw it all happen was legendary market-maker Brian Winterflood MBE, who died on 29th June. His financial legacy, built over sixty years in the City, is massive. Background music: 'Communicator' by Reed Mathis

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Children's Minister Nadhim Zahawi MP set out a strong case for abolishing inheritance tax in last Wednesday's Telegraph. It certainly needs its purpose defined and structural reform — however young people from disadvantaged backgrounds really need starter capital accounts and life skills to break the cycle of deprivation that ties them down, and hypothecation of inheritance tax receipts would transform inter-generational rebalancing. Background music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins

Last Saturday's trail of chaos exposes the challenge facing Russia, absorbed in conflict and with its people living in fear and poverty. Plans are urgently needed to find a way out of this mess. But it has to start with ending the violence in Ukraine. Could there be a role for UN peacekeepers to help while Russia looks for a new way forward? Background music: 'Russian Dance' by Joey Pecoraro

What is the psychological effect of individual ownership — and, notwithstanding the low starting point, how can we bring a sense of ownership right across society? Is the rate at which people discount the future impacted by their sense of ownership and thereby their sense of responsibility for the future? Background music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins

On 5th July the Treasury Select Committee held an evidence session on the hot topic of inflation. Their witnesses included: Professor Sir Charles Bean, Professor of Economics, London School of Economics (LSE), Former member, Monetary Policy Committee, Former member, OBR Budget Responsibility Committee; Nina Skero, Chief Executive, Centre for Economics and Business Research; Stephen King, Senior Economic Adviser, HSBC; Dr Sushil Wadhwani CBE, Chief Investment Officer, PGIM Wadhwani, Former member, Monetary Policy Committee. This full length podcast is two hours long