Debunking Economics - the podcast cover art

Debunking Economics - the podcast

Debunking Economics - the podcast

By: Steve Keen & Phil Dobbie
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Summary

 Economist Steve Keen talks to Phil Dobbie about the failings of the neoclassical economics and how it reflects on society.

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Copyright 2016 . All rights reserved. Economics Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Improving Productivity

    Improving Productivity
    May 6 2026
    In this episode of Debunking Economics, Steve Keen dismantles the mainstream economic obsession with "Total Factor Productivity" (TFP), labeling it a mythical construct that ignores the laws of physics. He argues that economists historically "fudged" data to credit an abstract idea of technology for growth, while in reality, productivity gains are almost entirely a function of increasing the energy throughput of machinery. Keen asserts that "labor without energy is a corpse" and "capital without energy is a sculpture," emphasizing that real output only rises when we design machines capable of converting more energy into useful work. The discussion concludes that as the global economy faces energy supply shocks and shifts from fragile "just-in-time" efficiency toward localized resilience, we must brace for a structural decline in traditional productivity, as "resilience" is effectively the physical price paid for security in a less stable world.

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    33 mins
  • Beating inflation?

    Beating inflation?
    Apr 30 2026
    Phil and Steve analyze the 2026 return of double-digit inflation, characterizing it as a structural cost-push crisis rather than the result of excess consumer demand. Keen argues that with Brent crude hitting $100 a barrel due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade, energy costs have become a fundamental driver of prices that central bank interest rate hikes are fundamentally powerless to resolve. He delivers a scathing critique of current monetary policy, suggesting that raising rates acts as a "debt tax" that exacerbates the real income shock for households while failing to address the underlying energy supply bottlenecks. To truly "beat" this inflation, he advocates for moving beyond interest rate orthodoxy toward direct energy price interventions and an accelerated transition to energy sovereignty to decouple the economy from global fossil fuel volatility.

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    39 mins
  • More Central Bank Independence?

    More Central Bank Independence?
    Apr 22 2026
    In this episode, Phil Dobbie and Steve Keen dissect Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey’s push for greater central bank independence, a move Bailey claims is necessary to shield price stability from politically motivated meddling. Steve Keen, however, isn't buying the mainstream narrative, arguing that central banks are operating on a "fantasy" model that ignores the actual mechanics of money creation and the volatile role of private debt. The discussion ranges from the "policy ineffectiveness" of interest rate hikes to the historic failures of central banks to act as anything more than a "Greenspan put" for a fragile banking system. Ultimately, they suggest that instead of doubling down on flawed independence, central banks should stop pretending they can micromanage GDP and start acting as a realistic police force for financial stability—before the next "unforeseen" crisis hits.

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    40 mins
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All stars
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I haven’t read the book yet but will be getting it! Enjoyed listening to the analysis of recent economic affairs. Accessible and informative.

Interesting economic analysis

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Great podcast offering some heterodox economic analysis. A recommended listen for everyone in the UK especially.

Great podcast

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