China wants Taiwan - an important election approaches. Will Trump gift Ukraine and Taiwan? Latest inflation disappoints - markets react accordingly.

China wants Taiwan on the same terms that it took Hong Kong. 'One country two systems'. A bargain that Xi Jingping failed to honour. No wonder most Taiwanese are suspicious.Taiwan's upcoming Presidential election merits close attention. There probably isn't a 'good' outcome. Just ones that hasten or defer a potential confrontation.Latest inflation data, for end 2023, has generally disappointed. We still think inflation will continue to fall and central banks risk cutting rates too slowly.Ireland is drowning in cash - booming tax revenues - but lacks strategic fiscal direction. It's raining, so why salt money into a rainy day fund. Health, infrastructure, law & order and the environment are all crying out for resources. Instead, populist giveaways are the order of the day, whether from the government or opposition parties.The biggest fiscal threat facing Ireland is the unsustainability of booming corporate tax revenues. One way to deal with this is to boost the domestic side of the economy, especially SMEs. Ireland needs an IDA-type organisation to replicate the success of the real IDA with domestic firms. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

Economics and finance demystified.A recent listener's comment:"I first heard about ChatGPT on your podcast and immediately started using it. I’m 73 and wrote my first program at 16. Having witnessed all developments in computing down the years I think this is the greatest since www. Your pod is informative in many different areas, politics, economics, society changes, housing crisis etc but at times goes beyond that. This episode tying up all this but also the implications of AI with a knowledgeable guest. ENTHRALLING! Keep it coming."cjpeconomics.substack.com Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-other-hand-with-jim.power-and-chris.johns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.