Economics & Beyond with Rob Johnson

Sarah Kendzior: Authoritarianism in a “Democracy”

Journalist and author Sarah Kendzior talks to Rob Johnson about how the Uzbekistan’s experience of authoritarianism within a nominally democratic framework could be the future of the U.S.

Evan Osnos: How Greenwich Republicans Learned to Love Trump

New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos talks to Rob Johnson about his recent article, “How Greenwich Republicans Learned to Love Trump,” as well as the state of US-China relations.

Gael Giraud: Will COVID Lead to Authoritarianism?

Gael Giraud, founder and leader of the Georgetown University Center for Environmental Justice, talks to Rob Johnson about how liberal democracies will fare in facing the pandemic, whether we could see a rise in authoritarian governments, and why economics needs to take climate change into account.

Yanis Varoufakis & Danae Stratou: Europe’s Dereliction of Duty

Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and artist Danae Stratou talk to Rob Johnson about Europe’s failures for working people, both before and during the pandemic.

Arjun Jayadev & Achal Prabhala: The Imperative of Access to Drugs

INET Senior Economist Arjun Jayadev and Shuttleworth Foundation fellow Achal Prabhala talk to Rob Johnson about the global need for access to affordable pharmaceuticals, especially in India and the rest of the developing world.

Gaurav Dalmia & Jayant Sinha: India’s Post-Pandemic Path to Prosperity

INET board member Gaurav Dalmia and former Indian Finance Minister Jayant Sinha discuss how India can emerge from the pandemic with greater prosperity

Anna Deavere Smith: Stories of Crisis

Dramatist and NYU professor Anna Deavere Smith talks to Rob Johnson about the power of storytelling in times of crisis.

Rana Foroohar: The Surveillance Economy

Financial Times columnist Rana Foroohar talks to Rob Johnson about how the pandemic opens the door to more surveillance technology from Silicon Valley, but also to a growing consensus on reigning in Wall Street excess.

James Manyika: Towards a 21st Century Social Contract

James Manyika, Chairman of the McKinsey Global Institute, talks to Rob Johnson about the merits of protecting people, not jobs, in the face of the pandemic and automation.

Jacqueline Edwards: Technology, Inspired Learning and Opportunity

Education innovator Jacqueline Edwards talks to Rob Johnson about how technology has the potential to bring people from less fortunate backgrounds onto an inspired path of learning that creates opportunity and portends a better future for humanity.