In the Architects for Change podcast we have often spoken about the economy and economics. So for this episode it seems fitting to talk to an economist, and who better than Paul Johnson. Paul is one of the most trusted economic voices in the country. Until recently he was the Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the UK’s most respected independent economic research body, and he is now Provost of Queens College Oxford and a senior adviser at Frontier EconomicsIn this conversation we look at how economic choices shape everyday life in our cities, towns and neighbourhoods. We talk about the UK’s long term growth challenges, the impact of stop start infrastructure planning, why our planning system struggles, and what this means for housing, placemaking and the 1.5 million homes agenda.Paul gives a clear, grounded view of why economic and political timescales clash, how local and regional governance can help unlock growth, and why building well connected homes in the right places matters just as much as the numbers. A vital listen for anyone working in planning, architecture, housing or public policy. #pauljohnson #Instituteoffiscalstudies #economy #ifs #politics #architecture #builtenvironment #planning