Tag Archives: The Economist Videos

Politics: Why America Faces Debt Catastrophe

The Economist (May 11, 2023) – As America’s government hits the debt ceiling, US politics has become a multi-trillion dollar game of chicken. If neither side backs down, America could default on its debts for the first time in history, sparking global economic turmoil. What is the debt ceiling, and how can this crisis be resolved?

Hurricanes: The Science Behind Their Destruction

The Economist (May 5, 2023) – Hurricanes are among the most dangerous natural phenomena on earth, causing billions of dollars of damage and destroying lives every year. But what turns a peaceful patch of ocean into the planet’s most destructive force, and how is this process being affected by climate change?

Video timeline: 00:00 – What are tropical cyclones? 00:46 – The history of tropical cyclones 02:06 – How do they form? 04:33 – What happens when they reach land? 07:13 – What is the impact of climate change?

Military Analysis: Why Are Wars Getting Longer?

The Economist (April 18, 2023) – The outbreak of violence in Sudan isn’t an anomaly; the world’s civil wars are growing longer and deadlier. Robert Guest, The Economist’s deputy editor, explains why.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Civil wars are getting longer 00:58 – Complexity 02:14 – Criminality 03:12 – Climate change 04:52 – The road to peace?

Putin’s Hidden War: The Russians Fighting Back

The Economist (February 23, 2023): The invasion of Ukraine left Russians with a stark choice: carry on as normal or make a stand against the war. But speaking out in Russia carries huge risks. How is the opposition managing to resist the regime – and at what personal cost?

Video timeline: 00:00 – One year on 01:37 – The first wave of protests 05:43 – Crackdown on dissent 10:04 – Individual acts of rebellion 13:51 – Partial mobilisation 16:20 – Russia’s mass exodus 23:06 – The future of Russian rebellion

Climate Change: Threats Of Ocean Acidification

The Economist (February 2, 2023) – As carbon emissions change the chemistry of the seas, ocean acidification threatens marine life and human livelihoods. How worried should you be about climate change’s so-called “evil twin”?

Video timeline: 00:00 The other carbon problem 00:50 How does the ocean’s deepest point reveal its past? 02:55 Why are baby oysters dying? 04:08 Is the ocean acidic? 05:21 What is causing ocean acidification? 06:01 Why are corals dissolving? / Will deep sea ecosystems survive? 08:35 A threat to human livelihoods 10:42 What are the ‘potato chips of the sea’? 12:04 What is the solution?

Analysis: How To Make Healthcare Affordable

The cost of health care is unaffordable for many in the developing world. But while universal health care may sound like an impossible dream, it’s more achievable than you might think.

Video timeline: 00:00 – The argument for universal health coverage is clear 00:57 – Thailand’s path to universal health coverage 03:31 – Universal health care around the world 04:48 – How to finance universal health coverage? 05:30 – Rwanda: from genocide to public health exemplar 07:19 – What is a pooling finance system? 08:01 – Which services make the cut? 11:17 – The economic benefits of UHC 12:23 – Could covid-19 be a catalyst for reform?

Qatar 2022 World Cup: Why It Spent $300 Billion

The Economist – Qatar is about to host the most expensive World Cup ever, costing as much as $300bn. Why has this small, gas-rich kingdom chosen to host football’s most prestigious event, and how does it fit into its broader plans for economic transformation?

Video timeline: 00:00 – Why is Qatar hosting the World Cup? 00:57 – World Cups are expensive competitions 01:56 – Qatar’s human rights violations 02:36 – Qatar’s place in the Gulf 04:43 – Qatar distinguishes itself from its neighbours 05:50 – Qatar bids to host the World Cup 07:18 – Qatar’s neighbours issue a blockade 10:12 – What might happen after the World Cup?

Read our defence of Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup: https://econ.st/3XcOC5A

Science: The Search For Alien Life In The Universe

The thought of finding alien life has fascinated people since the time of the ancient Greeks—but developments in astrobiology could be about to turn this possibility into reality. How do you hunt for life beyond Earth—and might this be the decade when we find it?

Chapters: 00:00 – Is there life beyond Earth? 00:56 – How has the search for life evolved? 02:36 – What signs of life are scientists looking for? 03:48 – What are biosignatures? 04:28 – How to find intelligent life 06:03 – How telescopes today have improved our search 07:52 – Expanding the search beyond Earth

Read more of Alok Sharma’s coverage on the search for life in space: https://econ.st/3zw1Hxt

Africa Views: Ethiopia And Sudan’s Disputed Borders

Recent events have revived a century-old border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan over al-Fashaga—a fertile region that both countries claim as their own. Could these tensions throw the entire region into conflict?

Timeline: 00:00 – The border dispute: Sudan and Ethiopia 00:58 – The history of the dispute 02:33 – How does Abiy Ahmed worsen tensions 03:55 – Trouble in Tigray 04:38 – The return of civil war in Ethiopia 05:07 – Sudan reclaims al-Fashaga 06:27 – The dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam

Technology: How AI Is Helping To Cure Blindness

England’s health service handles 10m clinic appointments for eyes every year. Artificial intelligence could help speed up and improve diagnoses for patients.