Nobel Laureate Economist Paul Krugman was recently interviewed for CFA UK’s Future Proofing Finance podcast, hosted by members Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA. In this wide-ranging conversation Paul Krugman sheds light on the unparalleled volatility and policy upheavals moulding today's global economic terrain. 

‘We’ve had more policy action in the last four months than the last four years…it’s wild!’  

Paul highlights the seismic shift the global economy has undergone with the Trump administration’s charge towards protectionism. Paul highlights the staggering rise in US tariffs, which have surged from an average of 3% to around 15%. This dramatic change has not only created a more protectionist environment but has also amplified economic uncertainty worldwide. 

For investment professionals, this uncertainty is more than something to watch with bated breath – its actively affecting decision making today and raising flags for not just the short term, but also long-term investment in the US.  

It wouldn’t be a future proofing finance podcast episode if our hosts didn’t take the opportunity to grill their guest on technology. Paul highlights the lag in technology innovation and investment in Europe and the need for this to accelerate as US policies change. Similarly, the conversation covered crypto and crypto adoption, or lack thereof, and how it’s imperative that for crypto to succeed it needs to become a viable currency.  

Listen to the conversation wherever you get your podcasts by following CFA UK. Or listen here: