The Green Room

Do facts or feelings fuel our economy? With Linda Yueh and Tom Simmons

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Episode notes

Have you ever heard of a ‘vibecession’?

It’s when we feel like we’re in a recession, without actually being in one. When there’s a disconnect between feelings and facts.

Feel familiar?

Economists are telling us that things are on the up. GDP is growing. Inflation is down. And wages are up.

So why does it feel like the mood of the population is heading in the opposite direction to the graphs?

It could be because our day-to-day experiences don’t match up with the data. It’s expensive to fill up our car. Our weekly shop costs more. And that lived reality feels more real than stats and commentary.

But should we trust the mood of the country over what the data is showing us? Do emotions speak louder than economic indicators? And is there a way to close the gap between our feelings and the facts?

That’s what we’re exploring with Linda Yueh, economist and broadcaster, and Tom Simmons, Senior Economist at Deloitte UK, in this episode of The Green Room as we ask: Do facts or feelings fuel our economy?

Tune in to find out: 

• What ‘animal spirits’ have to do with the economy
• Why disconnects between the data and our reality occur
• The alternative ways we can measure economic success
• How the media influences our economic perspective

Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts

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Guests: Linda Yueh, economist and broadcaster, and Tom Simmons from Deloitte 

Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs and Oliver Carpenter

Original music: Ali Barrett