Economics and Comedy

THE WORLD’S FIRST FESTIVAL OF ECONOMICS AND COMEDY

Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny Phone: 056 776 3837 BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

Welcome to the eighth edition of Kilkenomics – Europe’s first economics festival – which brings together some of the world’s leading economists, financial analysts and media commentators with some of our funniest, sharpest standup comedians. We’ve been called “Davos with jokes” and we wouldn’t disagree with that assessment.

The standups put the economists under the spotlight to talk through vital issues such as the case for a universal basic income, whether bankers can be tamed, the ongoing housing crisis, modern education and of course America under Donald Trump.

We’re also talking Russia, post globalization, Bitcoin and Europe’s refugee crisis.

New to this year is Pitchenomics, Saturday morning shows for early birds and – by popular demand – an added brunch on Sunday hosted by Adam Hills.

HAVE YOUR SAY: pitch into #kilkenomics for the latest festival shenanigans!

HERE’S A TASTE OF WHAT THE PRESS HAD TO SAY ABOUT KILKENOMICS:

“Davos with jokes” “Kilkenomics is just what economics “Lenny Bruce meets John Maynard Keynes” THE AUSTRALIAN needs: an event bridging the gap between BLOOMBERG academic analysis and the ordinary people “One of the oddest festivals anywhere, whose lives are turned upside down by “Wildly successful” comedy with a pint and a point” economic mayhem.” THE GUARDIAN UK SUNDAY TIMES the economist “I’ve been to lots of festivals and “An utterly bizzare idea but the public love it” “A little jewel where players manage to talk conferences, but Kilkenomics may be the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE human without being patronising” best. More than that: it felt like democracy.” THE IRISH TIMES Simon Kuper, FINANCIAL TIMES columnist “Having a laugh despite the gloom” BBC WORLD SERVICE WE’D LIKE TO THANK ALL SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE FESTIVAL IN 2017

PRINCIPAL SPONSORS

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PARTNER National Media Partner FUNDING PARTNERS

SPONSORS

VENUE DETAILS 1 Cleere’s Theatre Bar

2 The Hole in the Wall

3 The Set Theatre, Langtons Ballroom

4 The Ormonde Hotel (Kilbride Suite) (Kings Suite)

5 Watergate Theatre

BOOKING DETAILS Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny Tel: 056 776 3837 Online booking now at WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

FESTIVAL TEAM

Founder Directors: Richard Cook and David McWilliams Public Relations: Conway Communications Programme Director: Naoise Nunn Web and Print Design: RedLemonade.ie Production Manager: Michael Burke Box Office Team: Brian Butler, Garret Brennan, Niamh Moyles, Box Office Manager: Lilian Burke Ralph Sheehan, Paula McDonald Festival Manager: Miriam Dunne Video production: Adrian Brett - ClickZoom.ie Volunteers Manager: Tommie Ryan Festival Administration: Margaret-Mary Murphy Special thanks to Colm O’Regan for programme input.

Programme subject to change; correct at time of going to print. BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

Peter Antonioni PRASENJIT BASU RAFAEL BEHR is a Kilkenomics regular and is the founder and Chief Economist is a political columnist for the co-author of Economics for at REALEconomics.com, an Guardian. He has been political Dummies. He was educated at independent economic research editor of the New Statesman, chief Pembroke College, Oxford and firm. He is also the author of “Asia leader writer on the Observer and Birkbeck College, London. He is Reborn: A continent rises from the a foreign correspondent for the currently a lecturer in management ravages of colonialism and war Financial Times in Russia and at University College, London. Peter’s to a new dynamism”. eastern Europe. He was named research interests are diverse Political Commentator of the Year and include the football transfer FOLLOW PRASENJIT @PrasenjitKBasu in the 2014 Editorial Intelligence market, the process of enterprise comment awards. in technology markets and the techniques and practice of the FOLLOW Rafael @rafaelbehr arcane field of long-range scenario planning.

FOLLOW Peter @GuerillaEcon

DANIEL BILAK BILL BLACK JUNE CARBONE is The Director of Ukraine Invest is a Kilkenomics regular. He is is the inaugural holder of the and Chief Investment Adviser to an American lawyer, academic, Robina Chair of Law, Science and the Prime Minister of Ukraine. A best-selling author and former Technology at the University of Canadian-qualified lawyer with bank regulator. He is currently an Minnesota. She is the author of From over 25 years of professional associate professor of economics Partners to Parents: The Second experience in Ukraine, he advised and law at the University of Missouri, Revolution in Family Law, the third major international and Ukrainian Kansas City. Bill assisted Icelandic and fourth editions of Family Law businesses in the energy, and French leaders responding to with Leslie Harris and the late Lee agribusiness, infrastructure and their fiscal crises and has testified Teitelbaum, and Red Families v. Blue technology sectors. to US Congress about the financial Families with Naomi Cahn. She is crisis, specifically on regulatory also a member of the Yale failures and the role of control fraud Cultural Cognition Project. in the bubble and crisis. FOLLOW June @carbonej FOLLOW Bill @WilliamKBlack CONTRIBUTORS

NORAH CASEY JOHN CLEERE FRANK CROWLEY is CEO (and owner) of Harmonia, is director of Kilkenny based Red is an economist and is lecturing Ireland’s largest magazine company Lemonade Creative; an experienced at CUBS, University College Cork. printing over four million magazines digital, UX and branding design Frank has a particular interest annually for the Irish, British agency. Two years ago John initiated in cities, the creative economy, and US market. #TechThursdayKK a well attended innovation, regional policy and monthly meeting in Kilkenny for economic geography matters. He has FOLLOW Norah @NorahCasey promoting and creating new tech published in many of these areas in employment. He is also a regional international peer reviewed journals advisor for TechIreland and an and is currently researching the organiser of the first Google importance of creative occupations, TechStars Startup Weekend in regional resilience and the links Kilkenny this November. between talent, tolerance, diversity, well-being and entrepreneurship in FOLLOW John @redlemonade Ireland and Europe.

FOLLOW Frank @frankgcrowley

PADDY CULLIVAN CAROLINE DANIEL LIAM DELANEY of Callan’s Kicks and Kilkenomics is a partner in the London office of is SIRE Professor of Economics at brings you an audiovisual The Brunswick Group, an advisory the Scottish Institute for Research spectacular on the Rising Centenary. firm specializing in business in Economics and Stirling University Using Satire, Imagery, Historical critical issues. and Director of the Scottish Insight and Song, Paddy reveals the Graduate Programme in Economics 10 strangest things that happened FOLLOW Caroline @carolinefdaniel PhD programme. He lectured during our Rising, Revolution and econometrics, health economics and Counter-Revolution. He parallels behavioural economics in University those events’ effects on modern College Dublin and supervised Ireland, drawing out fundamental post-graduate students in changes that need to happen, economics and public health. no matter what Government we end up with. FOLLOW Liam @LiamDelaneyEcon

FOLLOW Paddy @paddycullivan BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

MIHIR DESAI MIKE DRIVER MARLA DUKHARAN was born in India and raised in started, built and sold M2 before is Chief Economist for Bitt Inc, Hong Kong and New Jersey. He is cofounding Convex Capital. Convex promoting the adaptation of a professor and award-winning Capital helps entrepreneurs sell technology in the Caribbean to teacher at Harvard Business School their businesses. Mike has sold 29 boost financial and economic and Harvard Law School. His entrepreneur owned businesses inclusion and lower the cost of scholarship on corporate finance, mainly in the tech sector in the last financial services, enabling the international finance and tax policy four years with a collective value region to transcend the constraints has prompted several invitations to over $1 billion. Mike is an advocate of traditional business and banking testify before the U.S. Congress for the role that real entrepreneurs channels. Marla is recognized as a and serves as the basis of his can play in rejuvenating economies. top economist and thought-leader advisory role to leading global in the Caribbean, well-known for companies and organizations. FOLLOW Mike @mdvex her monthly Caribbean Economic Report, monitoring major economic FOLLOW Mihir @desaimihira developments in over 20 countries.

FOLLOW Marla @Marladukharan

STEPHEN FLOOD JULIEN GARRAN KEVIN GILDEA is the CEO of international gold After five years as a consultant with is a comedian, award-winning broker, GoldCore.com. Stephen CRU, the commodities research playwright, performer, TV presence has been instrumental in growing unit, Julien joined ABN AMRO as and book reviewer. Kevin is a writer/ GoldCore from humble beginnings in their global commodities & mining performer on RTE TV’s satirical 2003 to a world-renowned provider strategist. He then took on a role as sketch show Irish Pictorial Weekly. of precious metal trading and head of European equity strategy at He was Ted Meaney in TV’s Bridget storage services, with $140 million the same institution, following that and Eamonn and Fr Cave in TV’s of bullion assets in storage and with a global macro strategy role on Father Ted. He performs his stand- sales in excess of $1 billion dollars. the hedge fund desk. Julien moved up all over the global shop. Stephen is passionate about gold, to Legal & General in 2005 as Head He is an award winning writer, fintech and the blockchain and is of Asset Allocation, and he launched winning awards for his writing. He an expert on precious metals and and managed its global macro fund, lives by the sea with his two cats – related finance and economics. focussing on achieving absolute Timmy and FiscalHole. returns, uncorrelated with the S&P. FOLLOW Kevin @ComedyGildea CONTRIBUTORS

HENRY LEVESON-GOWER NICHOLAS GRUEN CONSTANTIN GURDGIEV has been a practicing economist is CEO of Lateral Economics and is is Professor of Finance (Visiting) at and policy analyst for almost 25 a widely published policy economist, Middlebury Institute of International years. He has worked on issues from entrepreneur and commentator who Studies at Monterey, California and international trade and environment has had regular columns in the Adjunct Professor in Finance at to economic and environmental Australian Financial Review, the Trinity College Dublin. regulation design. Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He has advised Cabinet Ministers, FOLLOW Constantin @GTCost FOLLOW Henry @GowerHenry sat on Australia’s Productivity Commission and founded Peach Financial. He chairs The Australian Centre for Social Innovation; and The Open Knowledge Foundation.

FOLLOW Nicholas @NGruen1

LIAM HALLIGAN ADAM HILLS PATRICK HONOHAN is among the UK’s most influential is a stand up comedian and TV is an economist who was Governor economics commentators. He writes presenter. He has taken the UK of the Central Bank of Ireland from a weekly column in the Sunday by storm with his own talk show September 2009 to November 2015. Telegraph, is a resident panellist on on Channel Four – The Last Leg, CNN-Talk and makes documentaries originally a one-off series for the FOLLOW Patrick @PatrickHonohan for Channel 4. His latest book ‘Clean 2012 London Paralympics. Dubbed Brexit – How to Make a success of as the nicest guy in comedy, when leaving the EU’ was published by he is not conquering the small Biteback in September 2017. Liam screen he is treading the boards as has previously worked for one of Australia’s finest stand-up The Economist, The Financial Times comedians, selling out rooms around and Channel 4 News. the country and around the world.

FOLLOW Liam @LiamHalligan FOLLOW Adam @adamhillscomedy BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

KILKENNY

A brand new Kilkenny initiative in conjunction with Kilkenomics is offering Irish startups and existing small; large and medium companies an opportunity to fast-track their business through investment and will be offering this potentially-life-changing opportunity at this year’s Kilkenomics Festival.

www.pitchenomics.kilkenomics.com

Sunday 12th November 2017 11:45am - 12:45pm Harry’s Bar CONTRIBUTORS

JOHN KAY STEVE KEEN MEHREEN KHAN is one of Britain’s leading is an Australian-born, British- is a Financial Times reporter with economists. His interests focus on based economist and author. He fastFT in London. She writes about KILKENNY the relationships between economics considers himself a post-Keynesian, finance and economics and was and business. His career has criticising neoclassical economics previously a business reporter spanned academic work and think as inconsistent, unscientific and at The Telegraph. tanks, business schools, company empirically unsupported. directorships, consultancies and FOLLOW Mehreen @mehreenkhn A brand new Kilkenny initiative in conjunction with investment companies. FOLLOW Steve @ProfSteveKeen @JohnKayFT Kilkenomics is offering Irish startups and existing FOLLOW John small; large and medium companies an opportunity to fast-track their business through investment and will be offering this potentially-life-changing opportunity at this year’s Kilkenomics Festival. www.pitchenomics.kilkenomics.com

KONSTANTIN KISIN SIMON KUPER PINCHAS LANDAU is an award-winning Russian has been working with the Financial Born and educated in London, comedian. He has performed all Times since 1994. He is the author Pinchas Landau has been living over the UK and Ireland, including of several books including Football in Israel since 1976 and is one of Kilkenny Cat Laughs Comedy Against the Enemy (winner of the the country’s leading independent Festival. With a background William Hill prize for Sports Book analysts and commentators on in economics and political science, of the Year); Ajax, The Dutch, The Israeli economic and financial he is the ideal presenter for War: Football in Europe During the affairs. Prior to establishing an Sunday serious discussions. Second World War and Soccernomics, independent consultancy in 1997, which he co-authored with Stefan he was for many years one of Israel’s FOLLOW Konstantin @KonstantinKisin Szymanski. In 2008, Simon won the most prominent financial journalists. 12th November 2017 Manuel Vazquez Montalban prize for sports writing.

11:45am - 12:45pm FOLLOW Simon @KuperSimon Harry’s Bar BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

FIONA LOONEY MARTIN LOUSTEAU CORMAC LUCEY is a writer and broadcaster. She is a former Minister of Economy and is a chartered accountant based wrote Dandelions and October, both Production of Argentina. At the age in Dublin who teaches finance. enjoying very successful runs at the of 37, he was the youngest person to He served as a special adviser to Olympia Theatre, Dublin, and at The occupy this office in more than five Michael McDowell between 2002 Opera House, Cork. Are you there decades. Most recently he was and 2007. He previously worked in Garth? It’s me, Margaret enjoyed an the Argentine Ambassador to industry and in corporate finance extended run at the Olympia in 2015. the United States. both in Ireland in Germany. Prior to her debut as a playwright, she was a columnist for the FOLLOW Martin @GugaLusto FOLLOW Cormac @CormacLucey Sunday Tribune and, for the past four years, the Irish Daily Mail and the Irish Mail on Sunday.

FOLLOW Fiona @fionalooney

JORIS LUYENDIJK HARALD MALMGREN PIPPA MALMGREN is a London-based journalist and is a scholar, Ambassador, is an American policy analyst. She author. In 2011 Joris started a international negotiator, senior served as Special Assistant to the long-running investigation into the aide to US Congress and four President of the United States for City of London and the world of global US Presidents, advisor to many Economic Policy on the National finance on behalf of the Guardian foreign leaders and CEOs of Economic Council and is a former about how bankers can live with financial institutions and corporate member of the U.S. President’s themselves and whether the crash businesses, and frequent author Working Group on Financial Markets. of 2008 was a one-off or something of articles and papers on global She is the founder of the DRPM more sinister. His book Swimming economic, political, and Group and co-founder of H Robotics. with Sharks is about the culture at security affairs. major banks in the City of London. FOLLOW Pippa @DrPippaM Other books include ‘Hello Everybody’. FOLLOW Harald @Halsrethink

FOLLOW Joris @jorisluyendijk CONTRIBUTORS

KATIE MARTIN ANDREW MAXWELL DEARBHAIL MCDONALD is the head of fastFT, the FT’s is renowned for his cutting edge is Group Business Editor of breaking news service. She also comedy and intrepid social Independent News and Media. writes for other parts of the FT, commentary, double Edinburgh Dearbhail has won a series of mainly about markets. She was Comedy Award nominee (2007 & awards for her legal affairs coverage. previously at the Wall St Journal 2011) and star of Sky’s John Bishop’s Dearbhail is also a former Young and Dow Jones. Only Joking and BBC’s Live at The Irish Medical Journalist of the Year. Apollo, host of the BBC3 Edingurgh She is a member of the Law Council FOLLOW KATIE @katie_martin_fx Comedy Marathon and series regular of the National University of Ireland, on Sky’s Wall of Fame. Maynooth, and holds an LL.B (Law) from Trinity College Dublin as well as FOLLOW Andrew @andrewismaxwell a Masters Degree in Journalism from Dublin City University.

FOLLOW Dearbhail @DearbhailDibs

IAIN MCGILCHRIST David McWilliams JULIEN MERCILLE is a psychiatrist and writer who is co-founder of Kilkenomics and is a columnist for The Sunday practised in London, but now one of Ireland’s leading economic Business Post, The Journal.ie and lives on the Isle of Skye, where he commentators. He was one of the Broadsheet.ie. He appears regularly continues to write and make a living very few to accurately predict that on Irish television and radio as by lecturing. He is committed to the the boom was a bubble that would an expert on current affairs. He idea that the mind and brain can all end in a monumental crash with received his PhD in 2007 from be understood only by seeing them bank failures, negative equity, rising UCLA in geography (geopolitics and in the broadest possible context, unemployment and emigration. US foreign policy). Previously, he that of the whole of our physical and He is an economist, broadcaster received an MA from the University spiritual existence, and of the wider and bestselling author and writes of Kentucky in geography, and a BA human culture in which they arise – columns for the Sunday Business from McGill University, Montreal, the culture which helps to Post and Irish Independent. David Canada, from whence he hails. mould, and in turn is moulded also runs an daily economic bulletin by, our minds and brains. called 360 Macro. FOLLOW Julien @JulienMercille

FOLLOW Iain @divided_brain FOLLOW David @davidmcw BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM SUBTITLE KILKENNY MONDAY 20 – SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2017 WWW.SUBTITLEFEST.COM FOR TICKETS & INFORMATION

STEVE MOORE VIKAS NATH TOM NICHOLS is the Director of London based think teaches at the Instituto de the author of “The Death of tank VolteFace, curator of the Big Empresas, a business school in Expertise: The Campaign Against Tent Ideas Festival and author of Madrid, Spain. He is also the CEO Established Knowledge and Why it the upcoming of Brain Boxes – how for UK and Europe, Adani Group, Matters” and Professor of National think tanks changed world. He an Indian infrastructure company. Security Affairs at the US Naval War has spent a career working across However, most of his professional College, an adjunct professor at the media, politics, public affairs career has been in financial services Harvard Extension School, and a and campaigning. He was was – as an emerging markets former aide in the U.S. Senate. Director of David Cameron’s Big strategist at several investment Society Network, founder of Britain’s banks in the City of London and FOLLOW TOM @RadioFreeTom Personal Best and strategic counsel New York. He also ran an emerging to Channel 4 Television. markets fund for 5 years.

FOLLOW Steve @steve4good

NAOISE NUNN ARDAL O’HANLON COLM O’REGAN is programme director of is an award-winning standup Comedian, columnist and Kilkenomics. He is also artistic comedian and actor. Best known for broadcaster. He writes a weekly director of the Cat Laughs Comedy the British television show Father column for the Irish Examiner and Festival. He established the Ted, he has also appeared in films, has written for national publications Leviathan political cabaret, mainly including The Butcher Boy. in Ireland and UK as well as BBC hosted by David McWilliams and Online Colm is also a columnist with the MindField spoken word arena FOLLOW Ardal @ardalsfolly RTE Radio 1’s Drivetime, BBC World at Electric Picnic which has now Service’s In The Balance and BBC been running for ten years. Naoise World News’ Talking Business. He has has worked on a number of political also written and presented the PPI campaigns and co-authored a book national radio award winning “Colm with Public Accounts Committee Oregan wants a word” for Radio 1. Chairman, John McGuinness. FOLLOW COLM @colmoregan FOLLOW Naoise @naoisen CONTRIBUTORS SUBTITLE KILKENNY MONDAY 20 – SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2017 WWW.SUBTITLEFEST.COM FOR TICKETS & INFORMATION BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

GIDEON RACHMAN KATE RAWORTH AIDAN REGAN is chief foreign affairs commentator (‘Ray-worth’ just FYI) is a renegade is an Assistant Professor of Politics for the Financial Times. He joined economist passionate about making and International Relations at the FT in 2006, after fifteen years at economics fit for the 21st century. University College Dublin (UCD), The Economist, where he served as Her best-selling book ‘Doughnut and Director of the Dublin European a correspondent in Washington D.C., Economics: seven ways to think like Institute (DEI). Prior to moving back Brussels, and Bangkok. In 2010 a 21st century economist’ has been to Ireland, he was a postdoctoral Rachman published his first book, translated into seven languages fellow at the Max Planck Institute Zero Sum World, which predicted and was long-listed for the 2017 for the Study of Societies in the rise in international political Financial Times & McKinsey Germany (MPIfG) and the European tensions and turmoil that followed Business Book of the Year award. University Institute (EUI) in Italy. His the global financial crisis. In 2016 research is focused on the study of he won the Orwell Prize, Britain’s FOLLOW Kate @KateRaworth globalisation, European integration, leading award for political writing. housing, industrial relations and the welfare state. FOLLOW Gideon @gideonrachman FOLLOW Aidan @aidan_regan

SINEAD RYAN ANDREW SHEERIN ROBERT SHRIMSLEY is a consumer and personal finance is a founding director of TerrorBull is the Managing Editor of FT.com. journalist for the Irish Independent Games and a designer & theorist Before this he has served as the FT’s and Herald newspapers and also of satirical and political games, chief political correspondent and on RTE’s “Today with Sean O’Rourke” particularly interested in games and news editor. He writes weekly for the and Newstalk’s “The Hard Shoulder” play as forms of subversion or protest. Notebook column, a satirical look programmes. She worked in at the week’s news and for the FT financial services for 15 years prior FOLLOW Andrew @sheerinability Weekend Magazine. to becomming a columnist and co-authored “Cents and Sensibility”, FOLLOW Robert @robertshrimsley which teaches teenagers about money.

FOLLOW Sinead @sinead_ryan CONTRIBUTORS

KARL SPAIN GERARD STEMBRIDGE RORY SUTHERLAND is probably best known in Ireland is an author, playwright, is widely regarded as one of the for his TV series Karl Spain Wants a screenwriter, director, broadcaster most creative and influential minds Woman, which was a major success and co-creator of, among many in the advertising business, Rory in that not only did he get huge things, the legendary Scrap Saturday Sutherland is executive creative ratings but also found himself a satirical radio series. His most director of Ogilvy UK, part of one of woman! He’s performed stand-up on recent book, a satirical novel called the biggest agencies in the world. television and live all over the world The Effect of Her, was published in His sharp and witty TED talks on life – the US, the Middle East, Australia 2014 and his hit series ‘Hiding Out’ and business have been viewed by and the UK. He regularly does was recently broadcast on Radio 4. millions and his Wiki Man column in corporate gigs and spends all his The Spectator is essential reading money on sweets and comics. He has FOLLOW Gerard @mdvex for anyone with an interest on how also performed at every Cat Laughs technology affects us. Comedy Festival since 2002. FOLLOW Rory @rorysutherland FOLLOW Karl @karlkingov

GILLIAN TETT YANIS VAROUFAKIS LINDA YUEH serves as US managing editor, is the former finance minister of is an economist, broadcaster, and leading the Financial Times’ editorial Greece. He co-founded DiEM25 author. Linda is Fellow in Economics operations in the region across (Democracy in Europe Movement), at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, all platforms. She writes weekly a pan-European, cross-border Adjunct Professor of Economics columns for the Financial Times, movement of democrats. We’re at London Business School, and covering a range of economic, delighted to have him back at Visiting Professor of Economics at financial, political and social issues Kilkenomics after his sell out Peking University. She is a TV and throughout the globe. appearance two years ago. radio presenter, including for BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service, FOLLOW Gillian @gilliantett FOLLOW Yanis @yanisvaroufakis as well as having fronted BBC TV series The New Middle Class, Next Billionaires, and Working Lives.

FOLLOW Linda @lindayueh BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM Festival Planner

TH 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm 11pm 11:45pm Thursday 9 NOV | | | | | | | | | | | | | THE ECONOMICS OF BREXIT ONE YEAR ON: THE WORLD 10 YEARS AFTER KILKENNY A GRAVE MISTAKE OR ENLIGHTENED THE CRASH: IS IT TIME TO BREATHE THE SET THEATRE AS A SMART CITY OPPORTUNISM? EASY IN 2018? 12:30pm FREE (75 mins) 7:00pm Sold Out (75 mins) 9:45pm €20/€18 (75 mins) IS AMERICA WORKING? THE THE END OF WORK? DOES HOLE IN THE WALL US ECONOMY UNDER TRUMP EVERYONE HAVE TO BE AN 8:30pm Sold Out (60 mins) ENTREPRENEUR NOW? 10:00pm €15/€13 (60 mins) HOW TO REALLY FIX THE CLEERE’S THEATRE BAR HOUSING CRISIS 9:30pm Sold Out (60 mins)

12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm 11pm 11:45pm TH FRIDAY 10 NOV | | | | | | | | | | | | |

NORTH KOREA ON THE BRINK? OLD ENGLAND IS DYING: IRELAND AND BREXIT: CLEERE’S THEATRE BAR THE COST OF GLOBAL INSTABILITY THE ECONOMICS OF DECLINE AN OUTSIDER’S PERSPECTIVE 6:45pm €20/€18 (75 mins) 8:45pm €20/€18 (75 mins) 10:15pm €15/€13 (60 mins)

YANIS VAROUFAKIS THE GREAT GAME: IN CONVERSATION WITH INSATIABLE: THE PAT KENNY SHOW THE NEW RISE OF GREED ARE CHINA AND THE US Watergate Theatre FRI 9:00am-12:00pm DAVID MCWILLIAMS ON A COLLISION COURSE? 9:00pm €20/€18 (75 mins) FREE 7:00pm SOLD OUT (75 mins) 10:30pm €15/€13 (60 mins) The Set Theatre BIG ECONOMIC IDEAS DOUGHNUT FOR 2018: REAL PROBLEMS WHY IS IRELAND THE SET THEATRE ECONOMICS AND FAKE PROBLEMS SO BLOODY EXPENSIVE? 7:00pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 10:00pm €20/€18 (75 mins) 8:15pm €20/€18 (75 mins)

DOES SCHOOL HOLE IN THE WALL MAKE US STUPID? 8:30pm €15/€13 (60 mins)

TH 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm 11pm 11:45pm Saturday 11 NOV | | | | | | | | | | | | | KNOWING ME, KNOWING EU, THE RAYMOND CROTTY INTERVIEW: WHEN WILL THE NEXT THE MCGREGOR EFFECT: MACRON!: THE FUTURE OF THE FROM JFK TO TRUMP, THE FINANCIAL CRISIS HAPPEN: PUTIN AND US - THE WISDOM THE ECONOMICS OF THE SET THEATRE RUSSIANOMICS OF FINANCE EUROPEAN PROJECT ECONOMICS OF THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE AND WHY? € € € € WINNER TAKES ALL 11:15am €20/€18 (75 mins) 1:00pm €20/€18 (60 mins) 2:30pm €20/€18 (60 mins) 4:15pm 20/ 18 (60 mins) 6:00pm 20/ 18 (60 mins) 9:00pm €20/€18 (75 mins) SOCIAL CAPITAL AND PUBLIC RISE OF THE WHITE COLLAR NARCOS: UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME: 26 + 6 = 1 TED TALKS: THE LIFE: WHY WE CANNOT PROSPER HOW MARIJUANA BECAME THE AFTER GLOBALISATION: A SPONGERS’ CHARTER OR THE ECONOMICS OF THE THE ECONOMICS OF A FUTURE ECONOMICS OF FATHER TED CLEERE’S THEATRE BAR WITH BROKEN COMMUNITIES HOTTEST NEW COMMODITY WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? THE LOGICAL WAY FORWARD? MODERN NEWSROOM UNITED IRELAND WITH LIAM DELANEY 4:15pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 8:00pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 12:00pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 2:45pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 6:00pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 9:20pm €16/€14 (60 mins) 10:45pm SOLD OUT (60 mins) MOTHER EARTH: THE LUCKY COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA HOW DO WE PUT A PRICE ON AND ITS 20 YEAR BOOM: WHAT THE ECONOMICS OF HOLE IN THE WALL NATURAL CAPITAL? ARE THE LESSONS? THE MODERN FAMILY 9:00pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 1:15pm Sold Out (60 mins) 7:15pm €15/€13 (60 mins) BREAKING MILLIONS ON THE MOVE: DOWN EUROPE’S NEW THE TRUMP: Watergate Theatre REFUGEE CRISIS DIVIDED BRAIN ONE YEAR ON BREXIT € € € € 2:30pm €20/€18 (75 mins) 4:30pm €20/€18 (75 mins) 6:45pm 20/ 18 (60 mins) 8:00pm 20/ 18 (75 mins)

UBER, AIRBNB, DELIVEROO: BITCOIN OR BUST: Taming Bankers IS THIS THE END OF MONEY? ORMONDE KINGS 11:30am €15/€13 (60 mins) DISRUPTERS OR CORRUPTERS? 4:15pm €20/€18 (60 mins) 6:00pm €20/€18 (60 mins)

THE DEATH OF EXPERTISE: UNITED IRELAND: MACRON ECONOMICS: ORMONDE KILBRIDE WHY KNOWLEDGE MATTERS AT WHAT COST? IS FRANCE THE NEW ENEMY? 5:30pm €20/€18 (60 mins) 7:00pm €20/€18 (75 mins) 9:15pm €20/€18 (75 mins)

TH 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm 11pm 11:45pm Sunday 12 NOV | | | | | | | | | | | | |

THE KILKENOMICS BRUNCH ORMONDE KILBRIDE 11:30am SOLD OUT (90 mins)

BRUNCH EXTRA! LANGTON’S BALLROOM 11:30am U25 (75 mins) Pitchenomics CATALONIA: THE ECONOMIC THE ECONOMICS KILKENOMICS SUN 11:45am-12:45pm CONSEQUENCES OF A OF THE GAME SHOW FREE CLEERE’S THEATRE BAR SPLINTERING EUROPE MIDDLE EAST WITH ANDREW SHEERIN Harry’s bar, 1:30pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 3pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 5pm €15/€13 (60 mins) GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY: REASONS Langtons HOW TO SPEND YOUR TO BE THE SET THEATRE CHILDREN’S INHERITANCE! CHEERFUL! 1:30pm €15/€13 (60 mins) 3pm €15/€13 (60 mins) BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

THE ECONOMICS OF KILKENNY IS AMERICA WORKING? – AS A SMART CITY THE US ECONOMY

THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER UNDER TRUMP Once again Kilkenomics is joining forces with ‘Tech Thursday, THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER Kilkenny’ for this special show. We make cities for communities One year on from the political earthquake of Trump’s election, to come together, create culture, commerce and conviviality. has he fulfilled his economic promises to the millions of We don’t develop smart cities in order to make buildings, blue collar workers who elected him? He’s said he’s going to infrastructure or tech, that’s the economic side effect. How do take jobs back from overseas – including Ireland – and he’s we take the first steps in a city like Kilkenny? Join us as we withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and threatening to do discuss smart ideas and new technological opportunities with the same with NAFTA. Can the Donald claim credit for the fact a specific focus on Kilkenny for better economic outcomes. that the stock exchange is at an all-time high, employment See #TechThursdayKK on Twitter. numbers are improving and GDP is growing or would it have happened anyway? Get unique insights from a father and Host: John Cleere daughter who’ve served seven US Presidents as economic Contributors: Bill Black, Steve Moore advisers between.

12:30pm-1:45pm (75 mins) Host: Konstantin Kisin The Set Theatre Contributors: Harald Malmgren, Pippa Malmgren, FREE (Booking Required) June Carbone, Gillian Tett

8:30pm-9:30pm (60 mins) Hole in the Wall BREXIT ONE YEAR ON: SOLD OUT A GRAVE MISTAKE OR ENLIGHTENED OPPORTUNISM? THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER Britain’s exit from the EU, voted on by the British people last HOW TO REALLY FIX THE year, is a game changer. Some in the UK regret the decision as HOUSING CRISIS it becomes clear how costly it could be, while others still see a THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER gleaming opportunity. With the Germans fighting extremism at The price of 3-bed semi in Dublin is rising by €500 a month. home, the young Macron government paralyzed, Catalonia on By Christmas the average price of a 3-house in the capital its way out of Spain and Italy flirting with bankruptcy, might will be €450,000 – ten times the average wage. How the hell the Brits have got out of the EU at the right time? Or are they did this happen, again? Who is benefiting and how will it all deluded? And what effect will the Brexit have on Ireland, our end this time? If economics is the art of the possible, what are Northern cousins and our relationship with them? the ten solutions to ensuring that everyone has a permanent, affordable roof over their head?

Host: Gerard Stembridge Contributors: Peter Antonioni, David McWilliams, Host: David McWilliams Patrick Honohan, Mehreen Khan, Prasenjit Basu Contributors: Frank Crowley, Aidan Regan, Karl Spain

7:00pm-8:15 (75 mins) 9:30pm-10:30pm (60 mins) The Set Theatre Cleere’s Theatre Bar Sold Out Sold Out SHOWS

THE WORLD 10 YEARS AFTER NORTH KOREA ON THE THE CRASH: IS IT TIME TO BRINK? THE COST OF GLOBAL BREATHE EASY IN 2018? INSTABILITY THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER Friday 10TH November Even in the best of times, economists generally remain staid Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump have escalated their war of and poker-faced. Inspired by the dismal science, they’re words with veiled and not-so-veiled threats of nuclear war there to burst any bubbles that emerge from the froth. among the personal insults, but what effect does all this have True to form, we’ve got a gathering of the festival’s most on the global economy? Most observers believe the prospect of eminent contributors who’ll take a critical look at what’s been a nuclear conflict is remote but how does it affect trade with happening in local and global economics this year and sound China: a global economic powerhouse and North Korea’s only the alarm at any danger signs. ally? And is there a point at which it could all blow up?

Host: Gerard Stembridge Host: Konstantin Kisin Contributors: Bill Black, Patrick Honohan, Mehreen Khan, Contributors: Linda Yueh, Gideon Rachman, Pippa Malmgren, Julien Garran, Pinchas Landau Simon Kuper, Rafael Behr

9:45pm-11:00pm (75 mins) 6:45pm-8:00pm (75 mins) The Set Theatre Cleere’s Theatre Bar €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) €20/€18 (Regular/Concession)

THE END OF WORK? YANIS VAROUFAKIS IN DOES EVERYONE HAVE TO BE CONVERSATION WITH AN ENTREPRENEUR NOW? DAVID MCWILLIAMS THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER Friday 10TH November Technology is cutting out the middleman in Western economies, The swashbuckling, motor-cycle riding Greek economist and but much of those economies are based on the middle man former finance minister is back in Kilkenny to talk Brexit, taking a cut and, in a sense, we are all the middleman. As Trump, the EU and the international world order as well as computers and robots take over more and more of the jobs that insights from his new book: Adults in the Room: My Battle With human beings used to, corporations, committed to perpetual Europe’s Deep Establishment. Not to be missed. growth and cutting costs, are getting rid of people as fast as they can. Is this the way forward for the world of work and Host: David McWilliams is it sustainable? More to the point, should we embrace the Contributors: Yanis Varoufakis liberation that the end of wage slavery affords? 7:00pm-8:15pm (75 mins) Host: Konstantin Kisin Watergate Theatre Contributors: Mike Driver, Vikas Nath, Peter Antonioni, Sold Out Prasenjit Basu

10:00pm-11:00pm (60 mins) Hole in the Wall €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

DOUGHNUT ECONOMICS DOES SCHOOL MAKE US

Friday 10TH November STUPID? Economics has too often been about chasing the false goal of Friday 10TH November GDP growth even as societies become increasingly unequal The Irish secondary school system rewards a certain type of and we get ever closer to ecological collapse. Doughnut thinking and punishes other types of thinking. The danger economics is all about meeting the needs of everyone on the is that it stifles creativity and contributes to groupthink at planet within the means of the planet. The Doughnut of social the very top, which makes big policy errors more likely. But and environmental boundaries is a playfully serious approach this system of reward and punishment begins very early. Can to framing that challenge. Author of Doughnut Economics, Kate Ireland ever be a creative country when our school system Raworth joins a panel to discuss a new way of talking about rewards learning by rote and punishes creativity? economics and human progress.

Host: Fiona Looney Host: Andrew Maxwell Contributors: Mike Driver, Cormac Lucey, Sinead Ryan, Contributors: Kate Raworth, Henry Leveson-Gower, Caroline Daniel Julien Mercille, Peter Antonioni 8:30pm-9:30pm (60 mins) 7:00pm-8:00pm (60 mins) Hole in the Wall The Set Theatre €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) €15/€13 (Regular/Concession)

OLD ENGLAND IS DYING: THE BIG ECONOMIC IDEAS FOR ECONOMICS OF DECLINE 2018: REAL PROBLEMS AND Friday 10TH November FAKE PROBLEMS Once the heart of an empire on which the sun never set, the Friday 10TH November United Kingdom now seems in danger of disintegration with Don’t miss these brilliant minds, one of the best Kilkenomics renewed calls for Scottish independence after Brexit and a lineups, as they convene to gaze into their tea leaves, crystal seemingly deeply divided and unequal society. How did this balls and conjure up some predictions for how the economic happen to a country that won the Second World War, together world will unfold in 2018 and beyond. What are the problems with the US and Russia, and helped define the world order? Is they anticipate and what should we not worry about? Don’t Old England dying or will the giant yet awake? miss this block-buster opener to the weekend.

Host: David McWilliams Host: Andrew Maxwell Contributors: Robert Shrimsley, Gillian Tett, Rafael Behr, Contributors: Patrick Honohan, Joris Luyendijk, Linda Yueh, Mehreen Khan Martin Lousteau, Marla Dukharan 8:45pm-10:00pm (75 mins) 8:15pm-9:30pm (75 mins) Cleere’s Theatre Bar The Set Theatre €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) €20/€18 (Regular/Concession)

9:00am-12:00pm (120 mins) The Set Theatre THE PAT KENNY SHOW FREE (Booking Required) FRIDAY 10TH NOVEMBER Brought to you by Newstalk SHOWS

INSATIABLE: IRELAND AND BREXIT: THE NEW RISE OF GREED AN OUTSIDER’S PERSPECTIVE Friday 10TH November Friday 10TH November 30 years ago, Gordon Gekko, the anti-hero of Wall Street Our homegrown commentators and experts have worked played by Michael Douglas, declared that “greed is good”. themselves into a frenzy analysing the implications of Brexit on Greed, it seems, has always been with us as humans but it Ireland. Much doom and gloom is predicted with hard borders, now pervades every aspect of human life and inequality is export tariffs and disaster for Irish agriculture among the dire off the scale. Is it because greed feeds on human nature or consequences. But what do the experts on the outside looking is it because the winner takes all has come to dominate all in see? Are we missing some easy wins that are right under our economics? Is it important to tackle greed and its effects or noses or is it actually even worse than we think? should we just give in to it?

Host: Colm O’Regan Host: Colm O’Regan Contributors: Katie Martin, Vikas Nath, Nicholas Gruen, Contributors: Yanis Varoufakis, Bill Black, Kate Raworth, Liam Halligan Rory Sutherland 10:15pm-11:15pm (60 mins) 9:00pm-10:15pm (75 mins) Cleere’s Theatre Bar Watergate Theatre €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) €20/€18 (Regular/Concession)

THE GREAT GAME: ARE CHINA WHY IS IRELAND SO AND THE US ON A COLLISION BLOODY EXPENSIVE? TH COURSE? Friday 10 November Friday 10TH November Did you know that a pint of milk is 38% more expensive in For almost the last century, the US has been the dominant Ireland than in Germany? Monthly Internet access in Ireland is world power. China is now challenging that dominance 78% more expensive than in Germany, yet our wages are about economically, politically and militarily. Both countries, with the same. How can this be? A box of 32 tampons costs €4.64 vastly different political systems, histories and values, here and €3.20 in Dusseldorf. You get the gist, why is Ireland believe in their own exceptionalism. At the moment the public so extortionate? Why are prices in Newry a fraction of those in discussion is about tariffs, trade and money, but when does it Dundalk and what impact is this having on the society, the get serious and is an unthinkable conflict actually inevitable? economy and where does all the money go?

Host: Konstantin Kisin Host: Naoise Nunn Contributors: Linda Yueh, Robert Shrimsley, Contributors: Cormac Lucey, Sinead Ryan, Julien Mercille, Harald Malmgren, Prasenjit Basu, Gillian Tett David McWilliams 10:30pm-11:30pm (60 mins) 10:00pm-11:15pm (75 mins) Watergate Theatre The Set Theatre €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

KNOWING ME, KNOWING EU, SOCIAL CAPITAL AND PUBLIC MACRON!: THE FUTURE OF THE LIFE: WHY WE CANNOT EUROPEAN PROJECT PROSPER WITH BROKEN

Saturday 11TH November COMMUNITIES Since its birth, the European project has seemed to be in Saturday 11TH November perpetual crisis. Now, at 60 years old; and as populist political Although the idea has been around for as long as humans, the leaders across the EU’s member states win support with concept of social capital has re-emerged in recent years as skeptical, anti-immigration, anti-Euro and pro-referendum an antidote to the insatiable appetite for growth and wealth platforms; what is the future of one of the world’s most that has driven an unprecedented rise in global inequality. ambitious economic and political experiments? Social capital is all about achieving public good through Has the leadership of Europe now effectively passed from communities, networks and cooperation – in Ireland, we Angela Merkel to Emmanuel Macron and what does the know it as the meitheal. Can this new approach to economics future hold for us all? serve as a new more caring and sustainable form of human development or is it all wishful thinking? Host: Colm O’Regan Contributors: Yanis Varoufakis, Gideon Rachman, Host: Naoise Nunn Rafael Behr, Prasenjit Basu, Mehreen Khan Contributors: Simon Kuper, Nicholas Gruen, Robert Shrimsley

11:15am-12:45pm (90 mins) 12:00pm-1:00pm (60 mins) The Set Theatre Cleere’s Theatre Bar 20/ 18 (Regular/Concession) € € €15/€13 (Regular/Concession)

Taming Bankers! THE RAYMOND CROTTY Saturday 11TH November Can bankers ever be tamed? From tracker scandals and INTERVIEW: FROM JFK TO collusion at home to yet another massive debt bubble abroad, TRUMP, THE ECONOMICS OF the financial industry is in the news again for all the wrong THE WHITE HOUSE reasons. Globally, debt levels are now 40 per cent higher Saturday 11TH November than they were in 2008 making the system more unstable Between them, father and daughter, Harald and Pippa but generating more short-term profits for the banks. Here in Malmgren have served as advisers to no fewer than five Ireland, we have seen a series of scandals where customers US Presidents: John F Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson, Richard are hoodwinked and threatened by nationalised banks that the Nixon, Gerald Ford and George W Bush. Join us for this rare customers actually own in the first place! and special opportunity to hear fascinating economic and political insights from the heart of the most powerful office Host: Andrew Maxwell in the world. Learn what made Presidents tick, how economic Contributors: Bill Black, John Kay, Joris Luyendijk, realities shaped policy and how capitalism won the Cold War. Patrick Honahan, Marla Dukharan Host: David McWilliams 11:30am-12:30pm (60 mins) Contributors: Pippa Malmgren, Harald Malmgren Ormonde Kings €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) 1:00pm-2:00pm (60 mins) The Set Theatre €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) SHOWS

MOTHER EARTH: WHEN WILL THE NEXT HOW DO WE PUT A PRICE ON FINANCIAL CRISIS HAPPEN: NATURAL CAPITAL? WHERE AND WHY? Saturday 11TH November Saturday 11TH November Natural capital is essentially the world’s stocks of natural It’s ten years since the start of the last banking crisis, so assets which include geology, soil, air, water and all living when’s the next one coming? There are signs of potential stress things which make human life possible. As climate change all around the world. There are the booms in property prices continues to wreak havoc with extreme weather events in several major markets, including the UK and Ireland and and seriously impact the global economy, how can we get there’s a surge in consumer debt everywhere. Geo-political economists, business leaders and politicians to value and affairs are volatile with China and Russia challenging the protect our natural resources so that we can continue to US and, sooner or later, global interest rates will have to rise. sustain human life and growth as well as the environment? Something’s got to give, but where and how?

Host: Konstantin Kisin Host: Gerard Stembridge Contributors: Vikas Nath, Kate Raworth, Nicholas Gruen, Contributors: Mihir Desai, David McWilliams, Daniel Bilak, Constantin Gurdgiev, Henry Leveson-Gower Katie Martin

1:15pm-2:15pm (60 mins) 2:30pm-3:30pm (60 mins) Hole in the Wall The Set Theatre Sold Out €20/€18 (Regular/Concession)

BREAKING DOWN BREXIT RISE OF THE WHITE COLLAR

Saturday 11TH November NARCOS: HOW MARIJUANA Brexit – Britain’s exit from the European Union – is the biggest challenge faced by Britain since World War 2 and the end of BECAME THE HOTTEST NEW its empire. It is also one of the most serious cracks to develop COMMODITY in the EU since its foundation. Not to mind the effect on little Saturday 11TH November old Ireland. Those in favour, claim that Britain could be on the As more and more states in the US legalise marijuana, weed cusp of a new golden age of international trade while those is becoming a boom industry with dozens of startups jostling against fear marginalisation and slow decline into irrelevance. to make the most out of legal highs. How did this happen Our no nonsense panel cuts through the bluster and breaks in a country that is notorious for its war on drugs? Will the down the facts on what Brexit means and could mean. legalisation of marijuana and, perhaps, other drugs, lead to better outcomes for society or will the new white collar narcos become the new big tobacco in their pursuit of profits Host: Colm O’Regan whatever the consequences? Contributors: Gideon Rachman, Cormac Lucey, Joris Luyendijk, Rafael Behr, Norah Casey Host: Kevin Gildea 2:30pm-3:45pm (75 mins) Contributors: Steve Moore, Bill Black, Martin Lousteau, Watergate Theatre Peter Antonioni, Marla Dukharan €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) 2:45pm-3:45pm (60 mins) Cleere’s Theatre Bar €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

PUTIN AND US – UBER, AIRBNB, DELIVEROO: RUSSIANOMICS DISRUPTERS OR

Saturday 11TH November CORRUPTERS? After two years of deep recession caused by depressed Saturday 11TH November oil prices and a currency crisis, Vladimir Putin’s Russian Some of the biggest and most-hyped companies of modern Federation is now making a slow and steady economic times are taxi companies that own no vehicles, accommodation recovery. Having traditionally cast the US as the enemy, Russia providers that own no properties and food service companies under Putin is making more conciliatory noises as Trump’s war that don’t make food. We’re told it’s all about the technology of words escalates with China and North Korea. What does platform and about “disrupting” traditional ways of doing Russia’s economic future look like and how will it business. Is this a brave new world offering better customer affect the new world order? service and self-employment to self-starters or is it an excuse for wage slavery and a bubble that’s about to burst? Host: Konstantin Kisin Contributors: Liam Halligan, Constantin Gurdgiev, Tom Nichols, Host: Colm O’Regan Pinchas Landau, Pippa Malmgren Contributors: Mike Driver, Katie Martin, Rory Sutherland, Caroline Daniel 4:15pm-5:15pm (60 mins) The Set Theatre 4:15pm-5:15pm (60 mins) €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) Ormonde Kings €20/€18 (Regular/Concession)

AFTER GLOBALISATION: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? MILLIONS ON THE MOVE:

Saturday 11TH November EUROPE’S NEW Globalisation, which has been brought about by the increasingly freer movement of people, money and ideas has REFUGEE CRISIS TH seen unprecedented resistance in recent times. The Occupy Saturday 11 November movement and populist political parties all over the world Recent elections in Europe have featured new and old political have blamed globalisation for growing income inequality, parties surfing a wave of a growing unease among citizens of environmental chaos and a breakdown in society. Is this a fair member states about the rise in immigration from the war-torn assessment or has globalisation brought unparalleled wealth Middle East and North Africa and the economic effects on and opportunity? And if we are to move on from it, them. What’s at the root of these historic and almost Biblical what is the next step? scale movements of people and how should Europe respond to the economic implications? Should our humanity and empathy conquer our fears and are there really net gains from Host: Kevin Gildea accepting immigrants and refugees? Contributors: John Kay, Kate Raworth, Joris Luyendijk, Steve Keen Host: Adam Hills 4:15pm-5:15pm (60 mins) Contributors: Vikas Nath, Daniel Bilak, Yanis Varoufakis, Cleere’s Theatre Bar Dearbhail McDonald, Peter Antonioni €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) 4:30pm-5:45pm (60 mins) Watergate Theatre €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) SHOWS

THE DEATH OF EXPERTISE: WHY BITCOIN OR BUST: IS THIS THE KNOWLEDGE MATTERS END OF MONEY? Saturday 11TH November Saturday 11TH November The collapse of support in traditional institutions across the Are blockchain-enabled currencies like Bitcoin the future of world has happened at the same time as the explosion of the finance or a disaster waiting to happen? And what impact Internet and access to it. Everyone, it seems, is now an expert, do these cryptocurrencies have on money and the ability to or thinks they are. At the same time, real experts are derided, trade? Supporters are evangelical about its possibilities and fake news abounds and ‘mainstream media’ has become a its surging share value, but detractors worry about security, term of abuse. How did this all happen so quickly and what regulation and volatility. The rapidly rising price of Bitcoin effect does it have on our economies when everyone knows is leading many to question if the digital currency’s everything but actually no one knows anything at all? boom is about to bust.

Host: David McWilliams Host: Colm O’Regan Contributors: Tom Nichols, Martin Lousteau, Rory Sutherland, Contributors: Bill Black, Marla Dukharan, Stephen Flood Katie Martin 6:00pm-7:00pm (60 mins) 5:30pm-6:30pm (60 mins) Ormonde Kings Ormonde Kilbride €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) €20/€18 (Regular/Concession)

UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME: THE WISDOM OF FINANCE A SPONGERS’ CHARTER OR THE Saturday 11TH November Many of us think of finance as an industry of greed and LOGICAL WAY FORWARD? TH stupidity but is there wisdom to be found there? Based around Saturday 11 November Mihir Desai’s book of the same name, our panel takes a look Debate continues to ratchet up on the concept of governments at how and when we can discover humanity in a world of risk providing their citizens with a fixed amount of money, and return. Can bankers and financiers have any redeeming regardless of their income; and cities in Finland and the features and how can we better connect economics and the Netherlands are already fully testing this concept. As humanities so that we have a more empathetic world? technology and artificial intelligence begin to replace human paid work, has this idea become increasingly urgent? Our panel examines the pros and cons of free money for everyone Host: Gerard Stembridge and whether it’s a noble and necessary next step for mankind Contributors: Mihir Desai, John Kay, Henry Leveson-Gower, or a bonanza for the bone-idle. Robert Shrimsley

6:00pm-7:00pm (60 mins) Host: Fiona Looney The Set Theatre Contributors: Constantin Gurdgiev, Pinchas Landau, €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) Kate Raworth, Simon Kuper

6:00pm-7:00pm (60 mins) Cleere’s Theatre Bar €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

THE DIVIDED BRAIN THE LUCKY COUNTRY –

Saturday 11TH November AUSTRALIA AND ITS 20 In his book The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, Iain McGilchrist presents YEAR BOOM: WHAT ARE THE a groundbreaking exploration of the differences between the LESSONS? brain’s left and right hemispheres, and how those differences Saturday 11TH November have affected society, history, and culture. We’ve all hear the Australia has not had a recession since June 1991 and is folk wisdom notions about left and right brained people and now just one quarter short of the Dutch record set between what they excel at and fail at, but this is an inspirational and 1982 and 2008. The country’s natural resources including iron thoughtful examination at the science behind it with a man ore and coal enabled the Aussies to be one of the very few who’s mastered the study with one of the world’s economies to grow through the 2008 global financial crisis. So, leading advertising gurus: the right-brained what’s the secret? Is it just a vast wealth of nature’s bounty or (or is it left?) Rory Sutherland. is there something more at work?

Host: Naoise Nunn Host: Adam Hills Contributors: Rory Sutherland, Iain McGilchrist Contributors: Nicholas Gruen, Steve Keen, Peter Antonioni

6:45pm-7:45pm (60 mins) 7:15pm-8:15pm (60 mins) Watergate Theatre Hole in the Wall €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) €15/€13 (Regular/Concession)

UNITED IRELAND: TRUMP: ONE YEAR ON

AT WHAT COST? Saturday 11TH November Saturday 11TH November One year on from his shock election as US President, how is The UK’s exit from the EU in March 2019 has prompted some Donald Trump actually doing? Leaving aside the millions of politicians and commentators to suggest that a United Ireland hours and pages of commentary, what has he managed to is now a serious solution to the big problem that is Northern achieve with the US economy and what can he claim credit for? Ireland. Demographics are only going one way towards unity, What should we be looking out for over the next three years of maybe quicker than we expect. Crucially according to the Good his Presidency and could he win again? Friday Agreement, people in the Republic will have no say in whether a United Ireland goes ahead. So who would pay the Host: Gerard Stembridge nearly £10 billion per annum bill? Could the Republic afford Contributors: Harald Malmgren, Pippa Malmgren, Bill Black, this and would the people – North and South – want it? Mihir Desai, Gillian Tett, Vikas Nath

8:00pm-9:15pm (75 mins) Host: Andrew Maxwell Watergate Theatre Contributors: Liam Halligan, Steve Moore, David McWilliams, €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) Robert Shrimsley, Dearbhail McDonald

7:00pm-8:15pm (75 mins) Ormonde Kilbride €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) SHOWS

THE ECONOMICS OF THE THE ECONOMICS OF THE MODERN NEWSROOM MODERN FAMILY Saturday 11TH November Saturday 11TH November The concentration of media ownership in the hands of a few The definition and scope of the modern family now goes way has become a contentious issue in democracies all over the beyond the traditional model and leaps forward in equality world as the power of the Internet, TV and the press is often for women and same-sex couples have fundamentally the difference between huge political power and irrelevance. changed how families operate economically. Economic policy What are the economics at play within today’s news media; is often slow to catch up with societal changes, making life how does it affect the information we consume and what is the as a parent and a breadwinner frustrating and exhausting. effect on the editorial decisions that are made? What are the Should parents be rewarded for having children as they’re lessons for how media is funded and run? providing the workers and consumers of the future or does that discriminate against those who don’t have kids?

Host: Konstantin Kisin Contributors: Caroline Daniel, Cormac Lucey, Julien Mercille Host: Fiona Looney Contributors: June Carbone, Pinchas Landau, 8:00pm-9:00pm (60 mins) Constantin Gurdgiev, Norah Casey Cleere’s Theatre Bar €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) 9:00pm-10:00pm (60 mins) Hole in the Wall €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) THE MCGREGOR EFFECT: THE ECONOMICS OF WINNER MACRON ECONOMICS: IS TAKES ALL Saturday 11TH November FRANCE THE NEW ENEMY? TH Conor McGregor is a one-off; a money-making, headline- Saturday 11 November hogging winner in “the winner takes all world” of elite After 12 years in office and a difficult election in September, sport. Sitting on his pile of cash he waves his two fingers at German Chancellor Angela Merkel has yielded the spotlight the Irish establishment, hero to some, villain to others. No and the de facto leadership of Europe to the dashing young sportsman, not even Roy, divides opinion quite like Conor. French President, Emmanuel Macron. But who is he, where But is the “winner takes all” reward structure of elite sport did he come from and what’s his plan? Our panel examine that has made him rich now evident in many professions like Macron’s economic world view, his plans for the EU and how medicine, the law, architecture and academia where the best Ireland’s tax regime may be in his sights. make multiples of number 2,3 and 4. What happens when the winners clean up? How do we level the playing field and how Host: Andrew Maxwell do we compete when the game is rigged? Contributors: Yanis Varoufakis, Joris Luyendijk, Cormac Lucey, Julien Mercille, Gillian Tett Host: Adam Hills 9:15pm-10:30pm (75 mins) Contributors: Simon Kuper, Mike Driver, Peter Antonioni, Ormonde Kilbride Martin Lousteau €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) 9:00pm-10:15pm (75 mins) The Set Theatre €20/€18 (Regular/Concession) BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

26 + 6 = 1 THE ECONOMICS OF THE KILKENOMICS BRUNCH

A FUTURE UNITED IRELAND Sunday 12TH November Saturday 11TH November Kilkenomics’ most popular regular show is back with a heady Paddy Cullivan brings us a satirical visual and musical feast mix of Sunday newspaper reviews, inspired insights and a of a show from 2026. Brexit and demographics have combined healthy dose of good humour and craic. to mean Ireland is united North and South. But what’s it like? Who’s paying the peace dividend? Who’s paying the civil (Includes buffet breakfast. Show starts at 12pm) service? And will Jeffrey Donaldson finally admit that he’s really Daniel O’Donnell? Find out what our United future Host: Gerard Stembridge looks like in this extraordinary show, debuted in Contributors: Ardal O’Hanlon, Karl Spain, Pippa Malmgren, Belfast’s Waterfront Hall in July. Liam Halligan, Dearbhail McDonald

11:30am-1:00pm (90 mins) Host: Paddy Cullivan Ormonde Kilbride 9:20pm-10:20pm (60 mins) Sold Out Cleere’s Theatre Bar €16/€14 (Regular/Concession) BRUNCH EXTRA! Sunday 12TH November TED TALKS: THE ECONOMICS Due to massive popular demand, we’re putting on another Kilkenomics Brunch show for those of you with the appetite OF FATHER TED WITH LIAM for more economic analysis, financial insights and good old- DELANEY fashioned craic. Join some of our brightest and best for a look Saturday 11TH November through the Sunday papers, where we try to find good news The AIB Chair of Behavioural Economics at University College, and reasons to be cheerful. Dublin, takes a jaundiced view of economics through the lens of the classic sitcom, Father Ted in a very alternative “TED” talk. Host: Adam Hills Contributors: Daniel Bilak, Constantin Gurdgiev, Steve Keen, Host: Liam Delaney June Carbone, Gillian Tett

10:45pm-11:45pm (60 mins) 11:30am-12:45pm (75 mins) Cleere’s Theatre Bar Langton’s Ballroom Sold Out €25 SHOWS

Pitchenomics GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY:

Sunday 12TH November HOW TO SPEND YOUR The shortlist is in so come and find out who has won investment at this year’s festival. CHILDREN’S INHERITANCE! Sunday 12TH November Life-expectancy has never been greater and is growing by the Hosted by Karl Spain. year; we’re expected to work later and later into old age; and Contributors: Mike Driver, Vikas Nath, Sarah O’ Connor our children either won’t fly the nest or have moved back in! What’s the sensible approach to pensions and savings? How 11:45am-12:45pm (60 mins) can we better prepare for our golden years? And who should we Harry’s Bar, Langton’s trust with the answers to these questions? FREE (Booking Required)

Host: Gerard Stembridge Contributors: Harald Malmgren, Tom Nichols, Marla Dukharan, CATALONIA: THE ECONOMIC Pinchas Landau, David McWilliams CONSEQUENCES OF A 1:30pm-2:30pm (60 mins) SPLINTERING EUROPE The Set Theatre Sunday 12TH November €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) Catalan nationalists want complete independence from Spain, claiming they would be much better off economically. The Spanish Government which already cedes considerable autonomy to Catalonia and its other provinces naturally does REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL not want this to happen. Across Europe, often in wealthier Sunday 12TH November regions, in Belgium, the Basque country, Bavaria and northern After all the doom and gloom of the events of the weekend; Italy, not to mention Scotland, separatists are pressing their after all the economists referring to one hand and then the claims. Are these claims justified, what does it mean for the other; after all the sighs of despair and hopelessness; there economies of the rump states left behind and what happens are still reasons to be hopeful and even cheerful. Join this if Europe starts to splinter? bright-eyed and full-hearted panel of contributors as they are forced to find hope and positivity in the year to come.

Host: Konstantin Kisin Contributors: Peter Antonioni, Daniel Bilak, Martin Lousteau, Host: Karl Spain Pippa Malmgren Contributors: Adam Hills, Martin Lousteau, John Kay, Mike Driver 1:30pm-2:30pm (60 mins) Cleere’s Theatre Bar 3:00pm-4:00pm (60 mins) €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) The Set Theatre €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) BOOKING INFORMATION: Box Office: 76 John Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 776 3837 WWW.KILKENOMICS.COM

THE ECONOMICS OF THE KILKENOMICS GAME SHOW MIDDLE EAST WITH ANDREW SHEERIN Sunday 12TH November Sunday 12TH November Even though our attention has drifted from the horrors of Syria, In a post-Fordist world obsessed with profit and consumption, that war rages on. So too do conflicts in Iraq and across the what room is there for play – an activity famously characterised Middle East, much of it fueled by the thirst for oil of other by Roger Caillois as ‘complete waste’. Andrew Sheerin, radical countries as well as sectarian strife. How do the countries of game theorist and founder of TerrorBull Games, explores how the Middle East interact in terms of trade, how much power games and play can be used to interrogate and learn from the does OPEC still wield as oil prices remain low and what does world around us and – far from being extraneous to ‘real life’ – the future hold economically. are essential for the very fabric of culture.

Host: Colm O’Regan Host: Andrew Sheerin Contributors: Pinchas Landau, Tom Nichols, Bill Black 5:00pm-6:00pm (60 mins) 3:00pm-4:00pm (60 mins) Cleere’s Theatre Bar Cleere’s Theatre Bar €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) €15/€13 (Regular/Concession) Shows

The market for something to believe in is infinite

If you’re going to tell the truth make them laugh or they’ll kill you

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