How far should a reporter go in search of the truth? Investigative journalism demands time, resources, and risk. In this episode of «It's not that simple», with journalist Mariana van Zeller, we discover that in her profession there are no shortcuts.
A childhood curiosity took her to Columbia University in New York. From there, she set off on an adventure across more than 80 countries. But what drives someone to infiltrate clandestine networks, cross dangerous borders, and expose themselves to risk just to tell a story?
The stories she uncovers are not easy, but they justify the Peabody, DuPont and Emmy awards she has received. From drug cartels to arms traffickers, from corruption to migration routes, each episode demands months of preparation, risky travel, and moments of real tension.
«There is a line we should never cross, but we must always come back with chalk on our feet», says Mariana van Zeller, describing her balance between safety and risk.
In an era dominated by the attention economy, and, as she says, also by the «economy of rage», where does truth stand? With information becoming disposable, shaped by social media and algorithms, her work gains new urgency: «Investigative journalism is the pursuit of truth, and truth is essential for a healthy democracy.»
More on the topic
«Trafficked», with Mariana van Zeller, National Geographic
«Immigration Barometer: the view of the Portuguese», FFMS
«Mariana van Zeller, the investigative journalist who goes deep into empathy», ECO
British journalist and bestselling author Tim Marshall, known for the book «Prisoners of Geography», takes us on a journey through the real world: the one shaped by mountains, rivers, seas and natural borders that define how nations behave.
«Geography doesn’t explain everything, but it explains almost everything», he says, and he says it with the clarity of someone who’s reported from twelve war zones, been jailed in Damascus, shot in Cairo and bombed in Belgrade.
For Marshall, geography isn’t a detail, it’s the invisible structure that defines who can thrive, who gets blocked, and who ends up in conflict. «If you’ve got wide navigable rivers, deep ports and sea access, you can build ships, trade goods and project power. If you’re surrounded by mountains, shallow coasts or deserts, you’re limited from the start».
That structural inequality helps explain the success of the United States, «the most blessed country by geography», and Russia’s defensive mindset: «trapped on an exposed plain where the only defense is controlling buffer zones».
Portugal also comes under the lens: «You don’t have direct access to the Mediterranean or the major rivers of Central Europe. You face the sea, and, for a long time, the sea was your power».
Throughout the conversation, Marshall discusses climate, migration, populism and emerging tensions. And he’s blunt: climate change is already reshaping global politics. «When a Latin American farmer can no longer grow coffee, he moves north. That kind of mass migration helped elect Trump».
The geopolitics of the future, he says, won’t just play out between states, but between zones of despair and zones of opportunity. That means we have to look at the planet as a whole.
More on the topic:
«The What & The Why», Tim Marshall's podcast
Intelligence Squared: «How does geography explain the world?», with Tim Marshall
In this interview, physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski demonstrates that physical patterns are all around us and explains how they shape our daily lives, connecting human life with the planet’s life.
For the researcher at University College London, understanding the world means investigating these invisible patterns, especially those affecting the ocean: how the wind transfers energy to the waves, how sound travels through water to reveal hidden objects and how gases circulate between the ocean and the atmosphere via gas bubbles at the surface of the ocean.
In the North Atlantic, for example, the ocean is inhaling carbon dioxide, taking it out of the atmosphere, while in the tropics, it is exhaling it, releasing it back into the atmosphere. «There is a natural balance between the two», insists Helen. «And what is really useful about this is that we remove that gas from the atmosphere, where otherwise it would have contributed to global warming», she explains.
«These tiny processes, breaking waves and bubbles at the surface of the ocean, may not seem particularly significant», she adds, «but if we measure all the respiration constantly taking place across the planet, we see that the ocean is actually doing us a huge favour».
Those very same gas bubbles revolutionised fishing. Sonar systems, which send sound into the ocean, use them to locate fish. If a fish has a gas bubble in its swim bladder – as most fish do –the sound travels differently through the animal. However, the specialist warns, «this has contributed to overfishing and impacted biodiversity in the oceans».
«The key takeaway from all my work is how incredibly interconnected systems are. In the natural world, what happens in one place has impacts in other places», affirms Helen Czerski, citing how even a whale’s urine influences the balance of ecosystems.
«Whales feed in the Arctic and migrate to the tropics to mate. While mating, they don’t eat, but still produce urine, which deposits nitrogen on tropical islands», explains the BBC presenter. In places like Hawaii, meanwhile, they take shelter on reefs to rear their calves and end up fertilising these environments, which are not naturally nutrient-rich.
But this movement of nutrients has been under threat since industrial whaling began. «We removed one of the mechanisms that made the rest of the system work», and if humanity continues to remove other parts, through overfishing and introducing pollutants to the ocean, «it’s not just a chain that we’ll be breaking, but a whole web of interactions», she maintains.
For the time being, Helen Czerski assures that the planet still has the capacity to resist, but recognises that the balance between human life and that of the planet is changing. «I think we have an enormous problem, but also that we have the means to solve it». What we cannot do, however, is carry on dragging our feet –we must act.
More on the topic:
Helen Czerski's publications (University College of London)
«The fascinating physics of everyday life», (TED Talk)
«Climate change: A possible future» (Documentary, FFMS)
«On the trail of whales, orcas and dolphins in Portuguese waters» (Latest, FFMS)
What are the effects of perfectionism on health and well-being? Why is it that perfectionists are not actually as successful as you might think? How can parents teach their children to understand that imperfections and mistakes are completely normal and natural? Thomas Curran, a British psychologist and a leading expert on the study of perfectionism, is our guest on today's episode of “It’s not that simple”.
“If you look at the amount of spending that's going on right now, on self-optimisation, on self-help and self-improvement, we're at record levels. There’s never been more spending on these books, on these courses, on these coaching sessions… and at the same time, people have never been more miserable, more depressed and anxious.”
The warning is given by Thomas Curran, a British psychologist and expert in perfectionism, who is concerned about the rapid growth of this phenomenon and the health problems it triggers.
In this episode of “It's not that simple”, the professor from the London School of Economics explains that perfectionism is not defined by “extremely high” personal standards or by “high levels of striving to achieve them”, but also by the insecurity that is the fire that goes underneath those high standards.
Behind the extreme demands, there are always doubts as to whether we are sufficient, if we are capable of being up to it, he underlines. “This is huge and a cause for concern because perfectionist insecurities and concerns are very tightly correlated with mental health difficulties.”
An award-winning researcher, Curran shares details that show how perfectionist trends have been increasing since the end of the last century. “High levels of striving, something called ‘self-oriented perfectionism’ – perfectionism that comes from within, high self-set goals and standards – are increasing relatively modestly but, nevertheless, from a very high baseline,” he reveals.
At the same time, socially prescribed perfectionism – which has to do with the way other people expect me to be perfect - “is on an exponential trend upwards” mainly among the younger generations.
This trend has shot up around 60% since the late 1980s. Nowadays, there is a lot of need for approval and validation from the “other”, “now we rely on other people's engagement, likes and mentions for our own self-esteem,“ he adds.
Nowadays, it’s not a question of just showing off material goods, but also one of showing off all your hard work and professional success. “How hard we can work, how much we can hustle or what we can build – all of this fuels the economy,“ but, on the other hand, it leads to burnout. “This is a very different type of showing off, but it is no less difficult psychologically, because you’re never going to be the perfect hustler, the perfect grinder.”
Maybe it's time to counteract this pressure. “Great thinkers taught us something very important: contemplation. Sitting down and reading, thinking, that is exceptionally non-productive behaviour in the short term, but could be incredibly productive in the long term,“ he concludes.
What is productivity, really? And how do we measure it in this new world? Is the A.I. revolution a threat or a catalyst? In this episode of «It’s not that simple», British economist Nicholas Bloom explores the new frontiers of productivity and the challenges facing modern management today.
In 1911, it was enough to «count how many shovels of coal a worker moved per hour». But today, productivity metrics are far less tangible. A Google programmer, for instance, might be more productive by writing fewer lines of code.
But the reason some countries are less productive than others is clear. According to Bloom, it’s not about working hours or remote work. The real issue lies in management.
Having studied management practices and worked at McKinsey & Company, Bloom highlights the strategic intensity of American firms: «They measure everything, set tough targets, and reward quickly». In Portugal, that doesn’t happen.
But there are solutions. Bloom offers several strategies for business leaders, yet emphasizes one that goes beyond company walls: lighter market regulation. As he puts it, «the government should be like a football referee, set the rules, but stay off the pitch».
In this open-market logic, competition is, for the Frisch medal winner, the true engine of productivity. «The US remains the most productive country in the world because it has highly competitive markets».
And what about the future? Though it raises concerns for younger generations and their career prospects, Bloom believes artificial intelligence could spark a new leap in productivity.
«Productivity has been slowing down for the past 50 years. It’s like an apple tree where we’ve already picked all the low-hanging fruit, only the hardest ones remain at the top». But could AI be the new orchard?
More on the topic:
Nicholas Bloom's work
Nicholas Bloom's X account
«Go ahead, tell your boss you're working from home», TedXStanford by Nicholas Bloom
Only in portuguese:
«Como será o futuro do teletrabalho?», Da Capa à Contracapa (FFMS)
«O que é a produtividade?», [IN]Pertinente podcast (FFMS)
«Os mitos da produtividade», [IN]Pertinente podcast (FFMS)
Infografia: «Onde pára a produtividade?» (FFMS)
«Sobre o Futuro do Trabalho», de Pedro Portugal (FFMS)
What if a single mistake by the European Central Bank could send Europe into a recession? Ricardo Reis, one of the most awarded Portuguese economists of his generation, dismantles the myths around inflation and shows why keeping it under control is a delicate art - with inevitable costs.
In this episode of It’s Not That Simple, the professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, dismantles the idea that this variable can be easily controlled - especially when political decisions, public expectations, and global shocks intersect.
In this conversation, Ricardo Reis reminds that the pandemic and the war in Ukraine were two major tests for monetary policy. In 2020, central banks feared deflation and lowered interest rates. In 2021, people spent more than expected - and inflation surged. When the second shock hit - the war - expectations were already unanchored. «It was this accumulated error that made 2022 inflation more persistent».
The response - raising rates - worked. «Inflation fell without unemployment rising, but it would have dropped faster if there had been a recession». That’s the dilemma that Reis knows well, because he is also an academic consultant to the Bank of England, the Riksbank and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
And now? The worst is behind us, but expectations have changed. The trust in the ECB is no longer what it once was.
Beyond that, the tariffs imposed by the US on imported goods are the next test, according to the professor. «They’ll generate domestic inflation and a recession», but the risk is global, as they trigger trade wars and could force Europe to retaliate. Could the result be a recession in Europe, as well?
Are we safe hovering in the unknown? Harvard researcher and former assistant director for Space Policy at the White House, Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, is the guest of this «It's not that simple» edition.
In this conversation, Ezinne explains how satellites and space technology are already protecting lives on Earth - from monitoring the climate to anticipating disasters.
But she also discusses the real risks we face: space junk, the increasing privatisation of space and the lack of clear global regulation.
With the end of the International Space Station planned for 2030 and new commercial players entering orbit, the Space Policy advisor raises the question: are we prepared for this new space race?
Exploring space is no longer science fiction - it's a matter of survival.
More on the topic:
Mars Science Laboratory: Curiosity Rover (NASA)
Threat or indispensable tool? «Artificial Intelligence is the most disruptive technology we've ever seen», says Neil Lawrence, professor of machine learning at the University of Cambridge. But on the other hand, «it's the continuation of a technological revolution» in the way we share information via a computer.
Live in Lisbon, the guest on this edition of the «It's not that simple» programme says that one of the problems with this digital tool is that «it's not being used in the areas that people are asking us to use it: health, social care, education or security».
Artificial intelligence should be used to solve persistent challenges and its added value applied effectively, for example by optimising time in essential professions. «With this wave of technology, there is an opportunity to re-empower our nurses, our teachers and other people who make society a better place», he emphasises.
Although he is optimistic about man's relationship with this technology, Neil Lawrence is aware of the difficulties of regulating an area where evolution is so rapid that it is impossible to keep up. And he says that it shouldn't be regulators who are «not very agile and capable’ who will ‘decide everyone's future».
That's why he believes that regulators should be closer to companies and their dilemmas and be better able to understand technological reactions before making decisions.
It is with a focus on balanced regulation in this area that the expert is collaborating with the OECD to define guidelines that promote the responsible and democratic use of AI. «This is the most dangerous part of the reality we find ourselves in. We're at a stage where companies are trying to preserve their slice of the market» by restricting public access to AI, he says.
Instead, he argues, «we should encourage young people and people who want to do interesting and innovative things to use this technology».
More on the topic:
Neil Lawrence: «The Atomic Human: What makes us unique in the age of AI» (Talks at Google)
Neil Lawrence: «The Atomic Human - Understanding ourselves in the age of AI» (Finnish Centre for Artificial Intelligence)
Neil Lawrence: ‘Is AI beyond our human understanding?’
Interview with the University of Cambridge
Episode of the ‘Futures’ podcast
There is a clear Cold War between the US and China, but it differs from the one between the US and the Soviet Union and is «far more dangerous». The warning is given by Anil Gupta, the renowned expert on globalization, emerging markets and innovation, who guarantees that China is not, in economic terms, a «pygmy» like the Soviet power was compared to the American «giant».
Analysing what the specialist considers to be «the biggest geopolitical issue of our time», the expert argues that China is a «technological, industrial, economic and military power», pointing out that the relationship with the US is not really improving.
In addition to the clash between superpowers, Anil Gupta says that «the growth of emerging markets» has also fuelled geopolitical tensions.
While in 2000 there were 20 emerging economies, today their number has more than doubled. And the growth of these economies is expected to remain stable over the next few years, emphasizes the expert. This means that the emerging markets - China and India, but also Indonesia, Brazil and Nigeria - are becoming not only important in economic terms but also in political terms.
Rated by Thinkers50 as «one of the world's most influential management thinkers», Anil Gupta recalls the risk associated with supply chains, which the pandemic has already highlighted. The case of medical equipment used in the US is paradigmatic. Over the last 20 years, most of the gloves used by US surgeons have come from China. ‘In the event of a conflict with China, ‘would the US want to be dependent on such a simple item?’.
A positive aspect of globalization is technology. In this interview, Gupta considers that ‘Artificial Intelligence is the most powerful technology that mankind has ever invented’.
But he reminds us of the risks associated with it in the long term. «In 50 years, will AI treat humans the way we treat ants today?».
More on the topic:
«London Speaker Bureau» interview
«Leading Authorities International» interview
«The CrossroadTimes» podcast interview
Will we be able to programme the human genome like we programme computers? And will we be able to stop ageing or create medicines and vaccines in record time? Geneticist and synthetic biology pioneer Andrew Hessel explains how this field could transform medicine, making it possible not only to diagnose but also to cure diseases in a more effective and personalised way.
Hessel draws parallels between programming a computer and programming a cell, highlighting how the manipulation of genetic code is opening doors to innovative treatments and advances in longevity.
Today, DNA sequencing already plays a crucial role in medicine, but synthetic biology promises to go even further, offering the ability to alter microbes to improve health and slow down natural processes such as ageing.
However, all these advances face ethical challenges. The manipulation of living organisms, especially in humans, raises questions about the limits and responsibilities of using this technology.
Hessel warns of the risks of abusing synthetic biology for financial, political or religious reasons, but believes that the democratisation of these tools can be a positive force for humanity.
More on the topic
Andrew Hessel LinkedIn account
X account (Twitter)
Synthetic Biology: Rewriting Life. Andrew Hessel at NextMed Health
The Futurists: The First Technology with Andrew Hessel
Ted Hesser podcast: Andrew Hessel Programming DNA - The Future of Synthetic Biology
Amy Webb & Andrew Hessel | The Genesis Machine | Talks at Google
The alliance that has ensured peace throughout most of Europe is now at the centre of all attention. «We are in a very dangerous era. The next 25 years will probably be the most challenging NATO has ever had», argues Peter Apps, global affairs columnist for Reuters and author of the book «Deterring Armageddon: a biography of NATO».
In this interview, the expert is convinced that a new world conflict will be triggered by the ambition of countries that want to extend their borders by force of arms.
«I think the world is probably organised enough so that we don't have a third world war by mistake. If we do, it will be because one or more countries have made a really big gamble on attempting to do what Putin has done in Ukraine», he emphasises.
With Europe grappling with the war on Ukrainian soil - and on the verge of affecting NATO member countries - the continent will have to rethink its defence investment. And with Donald Trump in the White House, Europeans will have to be more autonomous in their military decisions.
The future of the relationship between the US and Europe is still unclear. The expert points out that, on the one hand, it is not certain that the Europeans «will do enough to keep the Trump government on their side, to ensure continued US support». On the other hand, it is not known how tolerant the next US president will be if Europe tries to go its own way.
Highlighting the importance of NATO membership for Nordic countries and Turkey, Apps predicts that the current tense environment could persist for 15, 20, or even 30 years, ushering in a kind of new Cold War.
Peter Apps does, however, leave us with a message of hope for the future: «we are clearly in an era of conflict, but common sense will prevail».
More on the topic:
Peter Apps official website
X account (Twitter)
Substack for Peter Apps newsletter
Ted X London
Interview about NATO on Dan Snow's podcast
Interview with Sábado magazine
Interview on the History Hack podcast
Colin Bryar, former vice-president of Amazon and Jeff Bezos' right-hand man, shares the secrets that have transformed Amazon into the world's leading e-commerce company.
In this interview, he discusses the philosophy of putting the customer at the centre of all decisions, the importance of analysing the right data to understand and respond to consumer needs, and the steps that led to the company's continuous innovation. From changes in packaging - prompted by direct customer feedback - to the emergence of Amazon Web Services, which created the cloud computing industry. In addition, he explores how customer prioritisation and the intelligent use of data have shaped the company's success in the digital marketplace.
Bryar also explains how companies can apply these lessons to grow, innovate and solve real problems. In this episode of ‘It's not that simple’, discover the impact of digital transformation, the future of online commerce and the strategies that continue to position Amazon at the forefront of e-commerce and technology.
More on the topic:
It's the tightest race for the White House in 60 years. CNN data reporter Harry Enten believes that Pennsylvania will be the state most likely to decide the outcome of the November 5 elections, where Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off.
In this interview, Harry Enten goes through the details of the American elections, explaining how the country's electoral system works, which is very different from those in force in Europe.
«In the United States, there are 50 state elections - as well as those in the District of Columbia - and the winner in each of these states gets the electoral college votes allocated to that state», he explains. «If Donald Trump wins Florida with 50% of the vote, against 49% for Kamala Harris, all the electoral college votes from that state would go to Trump», he explains.
Analyzing the national polls, Enten points out that they don't serve to predict possible winners, but only to show how close an election can be. And this one, in particular, he describes as «crazy».
This race for the White House is particularly tight: “when you look at the decisive states, in all of them, the candidates are separated by less than 3 percentage points”. And that's unprecedented since there have been reliable polls in the US.
Between now and election day, the candidates will have to bet on strategies that will guarantee them the support of undecided voters, and the political scientist assures us that it is their positions on the country's economy, their rhetoric and the reinforcement of television ads that could make the difference for those who have not yet decided their vote.
More on the topic:
Episodes of CNN's «Margins of Error» podcast
Harry Enten's official X account
Interview with Mediaite's Press Club
Articles on the «Five Thirty-Eight» website
How does food influence mental well-being?
Nutritional psychiatrist and author of the bestseller «This Is Your Brain on Food» Uma Naidoo argues that food is not only crucial for a healthy body, but also essential for a healthy mind. And the Mediterranean diet, known for its physical health benefits, can also help combat mental disorders.
According to Naidoo – who leads the first and only Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry Service in a US hospital – many diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension, are aggravated by a poor diet, and the same applies to mental health.
She points out that «people don't associate food with mental and emotional well-being», but bad moods, lack of energy or anxiety can also sometimes be explained by «the level of sugar they eat».
In this episode of «It's not that simple», the author explores how a healthy, nutrient-rich diet can significantly improve cognitive abilities. She highlights the intrinsic relationship between the brain and the gut, which share a common origin in embryonic cells, explaining how what we eat directly affects mental health. She also highlights how a high-sugar diet can feed harmful microbes in the gut, promoting inflammation processes that harm the body.
Uma Naidoo stresses the importance of adopting a diet that avoids ultra-processed foods and includes a wide variety of vegetables, always adapted to each case and each reality. She also reminds us that a healthy diet is far from being synonymous with tastelessness.
More on the topic
Harvard Nutrition Expert: «These Foods FUEL Anxiety | Dr. Uma Naidoo x Rich Roll Podcast»
«Ten Percent Happier» podcast interview
Food And Mood» Imperfectly Perfect podcast interview
Uma Naidoo's official website
American activist and author Ashton Applewhite tackles the issue of ageism in this «It's not that simple» interview. With an assertive approach, Applewhite shatters myths about ageing and combats ageism.
The activist stresses that ageing is a natural and inevitable process and that we should look at it with a more positive outlook, because «people with positive feelings about ageing live longer».
The author of «This Chair Rocks» explains that ageism manifests itself acutely in the workplace, where both younger and older generations face marked prejudices.
Applewhite points out that ageism is also a gender issue, as women are judged more harshly in the workplace. From being seen as "too sexy" at the start of their careers to being considered "no longer attractive" as they age, discrimination against women is a constant.
To combat this form of discrimination, Ashton Applewhite suggests a simple but powerful solution: «make an older or younger friend». For the activist.
By calling for a cultural change about age, Applewhite continues her fight for a world without discrimination, challenging concepts and encouraging a new vision of ageing.
More on the topic
«Yo, Is This Ageist?» blog
Ashton Applewhite, «Addressing Ageism: Building a Better World for All Ages»
«We Can Do Hard Things: Pro-Aging: Why the Best is Yet to Come», with Ashton Applewhite
«Magnificent Midlife - How to end ageism», with Ashton Applewhite
Presentation on ageism for the United Nations
Interview with Brené Brown
In a world increasingly defined by global environmental challenges and changes, the perspective of historian Peter Frankopan, author of the best-selling «The Silk Roads», is crucial to helping us understand a planet in constant change.
In this interview, Frankopan discusses the consequences of climate change over time and highlights the importance of human resilience - a constant in human history - which is essential for human adaptation to current challenges. He also emphasizes the imminence of historical disasters and the international cooperation that is fundamental to effective crisis management.
His vision offers an in-depth analysis of humanity's challenges and the strategies needed to face the new global reality. Peter Frankopan stresses the urgency of a collective response to problems, and calls for the need to prepare new generations for a world where populism and political crises are intensifying.
The interview with the historian not only gives us a perspective about the future, but also reinforces the importance of learning from the past in order to better manage the present and plan for the future.
Channel 4 News interview
Hedgeye interview
Peter Frankopan's oficial website
Podcast «I've Been Thinking», with Peter Frankopan
Podcast «Wild with Sarah Wilson»
«The Western world faces more complex challenges today than at any time in the past», says former CIA director David Petraeus. In this «It's not that simple» interview, the american general analyzes the geopolitical context according to his 37 years in the US army and his experience in multiple wars.
«We [the US, its allies and partners] are the circus performer who keeps many plates spinning on many sticks», he illustrates. According to Petraeus, the «relationship between the US, the West and China is the biggest and most important plate», since good relations must be guaranteed to avoid additional tension, mistrust and competition between these nations.
But at the same time, the US and its allies also have to deal with Russia, which is «the most threatening plate».
As for the future of invaded Ukraine, the author of the book Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine shields himself with a «it depends»: «it depends on the continuation of US support, which is already at 61 billion dollars, the EU's contribution - which is 50 billion -, the ukrainian capacity to increase military training and it also depends on the technological progress of Ukraine and Russia», he argues.
Maintaining the allegory of the circus, the general emphasizes that there are other «plates» in balance, which cannot be neglected and which must continue to «spin» without major oscillations. This is the case of North Korea's nuclear investment and the case of Iran «which has been expanding its nuclear, drone and missile program, and supporting malign Shiite and even Sunni militias, such as Hamas».
Asked about the biggest challenge that humanity is facing, David Petraeus highlights the «inequality of wealth between the global North and South». He claims, however, that the conflicts in various parts of the world, the growth of extremist groups, criminal organizations, cyber threats, forced migration due to climate change, and populism would be equally valid responses.
More on this topic
David Petraeus on Israel, Ukraine, and the evolution of warfare
Wisdom From The Top with Guy Raz
Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
In Conversation with Gen. David H. Petraeus
Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine with Gen. David H. Petraeus
David Petraeus' Linkedin
«The European Union is one of the largest and richest consumer markets. And few global companies can afford not to do business in the EU», says Anu Bradford, a specialist in global economics and digital regulation, who coined the term ‘Brussels Effect’ to describe Europe's influence on global markets.
In this «It's not that simple» interview, the author of The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the World - considered one of the best books of 2020 by Foreign Affairs magazine - explains that despite the dispute between the US and China over influence on how various industries (including technology) operate, it's still Europe that sets the rules of this chess.
Paradigmatic are the strict regulations imposed by the EU, which end up becoming the global standard, influencing companies in other countries to adopt them in order to succeed in the coveted European market. Anu Bradford argues that «global companies like uniformity» and it's in Europe that they find the standard. The expert uses the car industry as an example, pointing out that [manufacturers] don't want to have several different production lines to produce cars for each market.
The «Brussels Effect» extends to multiple concerns that are the order of the day, such as issues of environmental protection or data privacy with the development of technology, including Artificial Intelligence.
For the Columbia Law School professor, stricter European environmental standards and legislation protecting personal data show how Europe has responded positively to current challenges.
But could this undermine Europe's competitiveness? And could it stifle the development of the technological sector? Bradford thinks not, but she also believes that the European Union still has much to learn from how other powers handle, for example, failure.
With the elections to the European Parliament just around the corner, Anu Bradford talks about the problems of today and those that lie ahead. «We will see in the long term that the path europeans have set themselves consists mainly of making the right choices», she says. However, she warns that future decisions must guarantee «not only the well-being, but also the fundamental safety and security of Europeans».
More on this topic
Institute of International and European Affairs interview about the book The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the World
Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology, with Anu Bradford
Podcast episode: International Law Behind the Headlines
Tech Policy.Press interview
Anu Bradford's X (Twitter)
Anu Bradford's LinkedIn
«There is nothing more permanent than a temporary migrant. Don't create any illusions that a fair share of migrants in not going to stay», says sociologist Hein de Haas, in this episode of «It's Not That Simples», a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
One of the most enlightened but also thought provocative voices of migrations, Hein de Haas explains that this hot topic of today is neither a phenomenon nor a novelty.
«Migration is part and parcel of who we are as human beings, as a society», he explains, emphasizing that migratory movements have been taking place «for as long as humanity has existed».
The difference lies in Europe's position in this chessboard, having shifted from being a point of departure (in colonialism or world wars) to being a continent where citizens from all over the world arrive.
Highlighting that it is impossible to stop this movement, the sociologist warns against the hypocrisy of policies that punish migrants instead of those who accept them illegally. «In the United States, the number of employers who are prosecuted each year for employing undocumented migrants is between 10 and 15 a year, with no zeros», he claims.
«If you would really be serious as a politician when you say 'I want to combat smuggling, I want to combat illegal migration'... If you really want to do that, you better punish employers», Hein de Haas explains, adding that the lack of consequences for those who employ them fuels exploitation and abuse.
Breaking down the false narratives on this issue - from the left, which sees immigrants as «victims and refugees», and from the right, which speaks of the threat of those who «arrive to steal jobs» - the expert believes that these discourses hide the real problem: the fact that «in Western Europe and the US, there is the biggest labor shortage ever, especially of low-skilled migrants».
For further info:
Two dollars (about 1.85 euros) per day to cover all needs. This is the benchmark set by the World Bank to define extreme poverty, already accounting for differences in purchasing power among different countries around the globe.
Esther Duflo, awarded with the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2019 for her work on alleviating extreme poverty, provides insights on how to address inequalities. The author advocates for «practical solutions», arguing that "it is much easier to think about the effect of something than its cause" and reveals how small measures can have a significant impact.
The economist advocates a methodology based on a "plumber mentality." With this strategy, she demonstrates how important it is to experiment various solutions until arriving at one that solves the problem.
In this interview, the Nobel laureate in Economics explains how small changes in access to healthcare and education have long-term implications for the lives of the poorest. Using the example of deworming children in Kenya, she demonstrates how this measure has led to health improvements but also contributed to a reduction in school absenteeism, providing students with better learning outcomes.
Throughout the conversation, Esther Duflo also emphasizes the contribution of immigration to the economies of countries, explaining that the workforce and youth of immigrants contribute to the development of nations rather than impoverishing them.
In the fight against poverty, climate change is fueling new inequalities: the wealthiest countries are the major polluters, but it is the poorest who are suffering the most intense consequences of the climate crisis. Duflo thus calls for a global approach to this problem.
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