Episodios

  • Making buildings greener: EU decarbonisation plans

    Making buildings greener: EU decarbonisation plans
    Jul 24 2024
    By 2030, the European Union must reduce emissions from the heating and cooling of buildings – responsible for 13 percent of EU emissions – by the equivalent of the annual emissions of Slovakia.

    In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie sits down with Michael Pahle, Marion Santini and Giovanni Sgaravatti to discuss how greener buildings can play contribute to Europe’s decarbonisation efforts. They discuss new EU rules, expanding the emissions trading scheme, and the need to find financing for energy-friendly renovations, as well as how to shield households and small companies from the impact of higher carbon prices.

    Relevant publication and event:
    • Keliauskaitė, U.,B. McWilliams, G. Sgaravatti and S. Tagliapietra (2024) ‘How to finance the European Union’s building decarbonisation plan’, Policy Brief 12/2024, Bruegel
    • How to finance building decarbonisation in the EU, Bruegel event, 2 July 2024
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    35 m
  • Narratives and reality: China’s economic engagements in Africa

    Narratives and reality: China’s economic engagements in Africa
    Jul 17 2024
    In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan sits down with Alicia García-Herrero and Eric Olander to explore China’s economic engagements in Africa, both in the historical and the modern-day context. They also discuss the criticisms China faces from African countries and the West when it comes to foreign direct investment, trade, opacity and more. While Olander claims that China brings a forward-looking vision to Africa, Garcia Herrero argues that the reality is sometimes different from the narratives.

    This episode is part of the ZhōngHuá Mundus series of The Sound of Economics. ZhōngHuá Mundus is a newsletter by Bruegel, bringing you monthly analysis of China in the world, as seen from Europe. Sign up now to receive it in your mailbox!

    Relevant resource:
    China economic database, Bruegel dataset compiled by Alessia Amighini, Alicia García-Herrero, Michal Krystyanczuk, Robin Schindowski and Jianwei Xu, Updated monthly
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    41 m
  • How hydrogen can reach its green potential

    How hydrogen can reach its green potential
    Jul 10 2024
    In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie is joined by Bruegel fellow Ben McWilliams and Johanna Schiele, a Policy Officer at the Innovation Fund in the European Commission, to discuss the benefits and challenges of hydrogen as a clean energy source.

    Throughout this episode, they explore whether hydrogen could be used as alternative to the extracting and burning of fossil fuels, explaining the hurdles that need to be addressed for it to become a mainstream energy solution. With strategic support and investments, hydrogen could play a significant role in the transition to a sustainable energy future.
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    43 m
  • Tariffs are not the cure to world trade problems

    Tariffs are not the cure to world trade problems
    Jul 3 2024
    In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie discusses the current global trade landscape with Penny Naas, of the German Marshall Fund and Atlantic Council, and Niclas Poitiers from Bruegel. They explore the challenges of balancing economic resilience, protectionism, and the push for green technologies amid these transformations. Naas and Poitiers provide insights into the rationale behind the differing approaches of the US and EU towards tariffs and industrial subsidies, as well as the broader impact on global trade relations. They also touch on the role of the WTO in navigating these complex dynamics and the future of international trade policies.
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    46 m
  • Macron's snap election gamble

    Macron's snap election gamble
    Jun 26 2024
    Rebecca Christie sits down with Jean Pisani-Ferry and André Sapir to discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections in France, amidst growing voter dissatisfaction and legislative gridlock. They discuss the political intrigues behind the upheaval and highlight the potential consequences of a National Rally-dominated assembly, which could obstruct European Union decisions and implement protectionist and anti-EU policies, creating significant roadblocks for European integration and economic policies. On top of that, they also discuss the reactions from financial markets and potential turmoil for French budget.
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    48 m
  • Electrified tensions: EU's proposed tariffs on Chinese EVs

    Electrified tensions: EU's proposed tariffs on Chinese EVs
    Jun 20 2024
    In October 2023, the European Union launched an investigation into whether Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers were receiving unfair subsidies which give them an advantage in the market. In June 2024, the European Commission announced the preliminary conclusion that it would levy additional tariffs of between 17.4ؘ–38% on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). This would be placed on top of an existing 10% import duty. These duties are set to provisionally come into effect in early July, with a proposal for permanent measures expected in November, subject to a decisive vote.

    In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan sits down with Alicia García-Herrero and George Magnus to discuss the EV investigation, the impact of China’s industrial policy on its mass-production growth model, why this approach is now facing resistance, and the broader implications of China’s overcapacity for the EU and the global market.

    Relevant publications:
    García-Herrero, A. and R. Schindowski (2024) ‘Unpacking China’s industrial policy and its implications for Europe’, Working Paper 11/2024, Bruegel
    Red Flags: Why Xi’s China is in Jeopardy, book by George Magnus
    The story of China’s electric vehicle industry, Bruegel podcast with Giuseppe Porcaro, Alicia García-Herrero and Zeyi Yang

    This episode is part of the ZhōngHuá Mundus series of The Sound of Economics. ZhōngHuá Mundus is a newsletter by Bruegel, bringing you monthly analysis of China in the world, as seen from Europe. Sign up now to receive it in your mailbox!
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    34 m
  • EU-UK relations: Brexit, Scotland, Ireland

    EU-UK relations: Brexit, Scotland, Ireland
    Jun 12 2024
    In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Rebecca Christie sits down with Tony Connelly, Europe editor of Irish public service broadcaster RTÉ, and David Gow, who chairs the Royal Society of Edinburgh's EU-Scotland initiative. They discuss EU-UK relations after Brexit, how Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales fit into the picture, upcoming British elections, and long-term prospects for Irish unity. This episode was recorded on 6 June 2024.
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    47 m
  • How the financial sector can speed up the green transition

    How the financial sector can speed up the green transition
    Jun 5 2024
    In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Bruegel’s non-resident fellow Dirk Schoenmaker presents his latest book ‘Corporate Finance for Long-Term Value’ with host Rebecca Christie and CFO at Nederlandse Gasunie, Janneke Hermes.

    They talk about how corporate finance and sustainability can go together. New models can help firms quantify the cost of social and environmental factors, so they can plan better for the long term. The podcast also explores how investors can guide funding to certain companies and projects without sacrificing return and thus speed up the transition to a sustainable economy.
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    31 m