Weekly Economics Podcast: A Beginner’s Guide to Neoliberalism

For the next six weeks, we’re doing something a bit different. We’re telling the story of neoliberalism, from the beginning. We call it A Beginner’s Guide to Neoliberalism.

We first ran the series back in 2015, but it’s as relevant as ever. It’s presented by the journalist Kirsty Styles alongside James Meadway, who at the time was chief economist at the New Economics Foundation.

Part 1 — The basics

In part 1, James and Kirsty start with a history of our economic system, the difference between capitalism and neoliberalism, and examine how neoliberalism came to dominate modern day economics.

Part 2 — The House That Hayek Built

Economist James Meadway and journalist Kirsty Styles continue their 6‑part miniseries about neoliberalism. In part 2, they tell the story of how the once obscure ideas of theorist Friedrich Hayek moved from the fringe to the mainstream, ushering in the age of neoliberalism.

Part 3 — World Domination

James Meadway and Kirsty Styles explain how neoliberalism came to dominate economies around the globe.

Part 4 — Acceptable in the 80s

James Meadway and Kirsty Styles explain how neoliberalism took hold in the UK in the 1980s.

Part 5 — The End of History?

James Meadway and Kirsty Styles discuss how neoliberalism lives on today.

This episode was recorded back in August 2015 and a lot has changed since then. The good news is James and Kirsty will be back for a brand new episode in a couple of weeks’ time, telling the story of the backlash against neoliberalism over the past few years.

Part 6 — The Alternatives 

Kirsty Styles and James Meadway talk about the alternatives to neoliberalism.

This episode was recorded back in August 2015, which feels like a million years ago. We still think it’s worth listening to, but a lot has changed since then. James and Kirsty will be back for a brand new update episode next week, bringing us bang up to date on the alternatives.

It’s been 4 years since Kirsty Styles and James Meadway told the story of neoliberalism, from Hayek to Thatcher to the end of history. But we got the band back together, alongside NEF chief executive Miatta Fahnbulleh for a brand new up to date episode which you can listen to here.

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Banner image: Randi Hausken 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)