Tell me How

Knowledge on the impact of climate change on our lives has been increasing- more data will deepen our analysis and models. This podcast discusses some of the elements of human society and biological processes that are hard to model and their implications for climate change. Guest Prof. Charles Kolstad also suggests areas for further research.

Commerce, the exchange of goods and services, is at the heart of economic prosperity. Goods get to us because roads and rail connect us to different places, supporting supply chains. Quality infrastructure built in the right place is important. But just building infrastructure is not enough. What is equally essential is how that infrastructure is used to provide services: the trucking, haulage, rail, and other services that carry the goods. In this episode, we discuss how the market for road infrastructure services - can facilitate or, impede the functioning of supply chains.

This episode builds on Episode 4 which presented the economic analysis of cybersecurity markets and the policy framework governing stakeholder actions. This episode considers the role of firms/organizations; it points to actions that government and businesses can take to ensure that their vital interests are secure from cyberattacks. It presents different types of risks that companies face and the tools to mitigate them, paying special attention to the interaction of business and technical needs. It also addresses the timing of investments in cybersecurity in an increasingly digitalized world.

An increasing focus on clean energy is driving up demand for minerals and metals needed for its production. Yet, mining itself can be done in ways that harm the environment, harm communities and even contribute to global warming. Policies can ensure it doesn’t do so. This podcast discusses how.

Universal access to affordable, and reliable electricity is essential to every aspect of the modern economy. Yet, many lack this service. In 2020, recessions in countries around the world had a negative impact on investments, electricity providers, and their clients, slowing progress in meeting SDG7 goals. This podcast discusses how 2020 changed the way we approach SDG7 and the policies needed to move forward as growth resumes.

What exactly is the social cost of carbon? What should policymakers do in the face of uncertainty surrounding its value?  Is a global carbon tax a good response to global warming? This episode addresses these questions. It considers the problems policymakers face when confronting a range of potential catastrophes – as happened in 2020. Should countries plan for each potential disaster as a separate event?

Innovations developed in one country take time to be adopted/used in others, sometimes decades. But platform business models in mobility /transport services have been adopted in many countries and in various uses. What about them makes this possible and can a first mover face effective competition from newcomers? The answers are evolving as are the policies countries adopt to guide outcomes.

Firms, governments and people have racked up debt in the pandemic — and many Infrastructure sectors are hard hit too. Debt needs to be managed well for a solid recovery supported by private financing. In this episode, World Bank Chief Economist Carmen Reinhart has an exclusive chat with Roumeen to share insights on how to go forward.

Did you know that e-mobility is a pit stop on the road to decarbonization? You need multiple stakeholders to commit to clean energy and work together to reform the transportation sector. A good policy framework, supporting competition and innovation for efficient and green mass transportation is needed.  In this episode, Roumeen Islam catches up with Bianca Bianchi Alves, urban transportation expert, to find out how.

Many of us are no strangers to cyberattacks. Places we shop, bank, eat, and conduct online transactions are routinely the target of hackers. Consumers, governments, and businesses are all vulnerable as we are increasingly dependent on the internet. What can we do to make our economies more cybersecure? Find out in this new podcast as Roumeen Islam catches up with Professor Tyler Moore, Tandy Professor of Cyber Security and Information Assurance in the Tandy School of Computer Science at the University of Tulsa and Editor of the Journal of Cybersecurity.