Should Experts Set The Fiscal Rules?

Should Experts Set The Fiscal Rules?

Author: UCL Political Science May 2, 2024 Duration: 32:25
This week we are looking at who should decide on fiscal policy. In particular, what should we make of arguments that experts – not politicians – should set the size of the budget deficit?

Ever wonder what happens when sharp academic minds turn their focus to the headlines? UCL Uncovering Politics pulls back the curtain on the forces shaping our world, straight from the heart of one of the world's leading universities. This isn't a lecture series, but a series of conversations where complex ideas about power, culture, and society are made accessible and urgent. You'll hear researchers from UCL's Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy dissect everything from voting behaviour and international conflict to the philosophy underlying our social structures, connecting rigorous scholarship directly to current events. Each episode feels like sitting in on a fascinating discussion between experts who are as curious about the "why" behind political phenomena as they are knowledgeable. The podcast serves as a direct line to cutting-edge analysis, offering depth and context that goes far beyond the daily news cycle. By spotlighting the fantastic work done within the department, it provides listeners with a richer, more nuanced understanding of the mechanics behind culture, government, and the news we consume. Tune in for a thoughtful and genuinely enlightening exploration of contemporary politics, grounded in research but always engaged with the real world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

UCL Uncovering Politics
Podcast Episodes
What’s Wrong with Neocolonialism? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:45
This week we're looking at neo-colonialism. Unequal patterns of cultural exchange between the Global South and Global North are sometimes labeled “neo-colonial.” What, if anything, is wrong with these patterns?
The Role of Information in State-Building [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:13
This week we’re looking at the role of information in state-building. States need to be able to act. For that, they often need information on their citizens. But how do they get that information, what are the implication…
Public Attitudes To The Economy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:07
This week we’re looking at public attitudes to the economy. How do people think of the economy? And why do they often support fiscal austerity?
Should Russian Assets Be Seized? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:44
This week we ask: Should Russian assets abroad be seized to support Ukraine?
The UK Healthcare Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:01
This week we’re looking at the current health crisis in the UK. What is going wrong with the NHS? Should the state intervene more or less in public health?
Responding to Civilian Harm in Millitary Conflicts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:05
This week, we are looking at civilian harm in conflict. If armed forces cause unintended harm to civilians in the course of action, how should they respond? What types of approaches, processes, and amounts of compensatio…
Do Protests Affect What Politicians Say? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:56
This week we are looking at the effects of protest. Do protests influence what politicians talk about? And what does this say about the role of protests in democracy?
Settling Disputes Between Governments and Investors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:13
This week we’re looking at disputes between states and international investors. How are they resolved? And why should every one of us care about them?
Managing Diversity Amongst the EU Member States [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:08
This week we ask: how should the European Union handle the political, social, and economic diversity amongst its member states – and what can it do about democratic backsliding?