In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked, Jim and Richard dig deep into the economy and global politics. Northern Ireland is enjoying record pay increases, with annual earnings up 8.1%. We analyse whether this rise translates to real-term gains after years of wage stagnation (which averaged -0.1% over a decade) and how this impacts public and private sector workers.

Locally, we examine Stormont's continued paralysis as the proposed $20 billion gold mine in County Tyrone remains stalled, sending a poor message to international investors about barriers to development. Globally, we discuss China's strategic leveraging of rare earth metals in trade negotiations. Finally, a V-Dem Institute report reveals the alarming decline of democracy worldwide—now back to 1985 levels—and we connect this political disillusionment directly to decades of economic stagnation and the rise of autocracy.

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