The Rest is Politics interview with Mark Carney

growstuff

Having said that, I think Rory Stewart has a good grasp of government procedures and politics, including economics.

I find it rather sad when people start to be destructive about other people's degrees. Degrees, after all, only mark a level at which you can learn. After that learning becomes much more diverse.

Whatever Stewart is or isn't, the one thing he has shown is an ability to dissect, analyse and learn. This has been rewarded by a number of international awards for his writing. He has also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling. In 2004, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire and became a Fellow of the Carr Centre at Harvard University. It seems to me that he hasn't stopped learning. That openness to new knowledge seems to be something lacking in many, including many politicians.

The series of interviews under "The Rest is Politics" logo is called The Rest is Politics - Leading". In them, unsurprisingly, they manage to interview leaders, often those who rarely if ever speak in public. Both interviewers seem able to discuss from different points of knowledge and draw out the interviewee.

There is another group of videos called "The Rest is Politics - Question Time", where they answer listener's questions. Recently a listener asked what Rory thought of the fast-track system in the Civil Service. Listening to him describe what he thought, it seemed obvious his thirst for learning is not yet dead.

MayBee70

Well, I don't understand much about economics or banking but I’m pretty sure that Carney was right about Brexit.

I found Carney's view on the challenges resulting from Brexit one of the most interesting parts of the interview MayBee.

Having said that, I think Rory Stewart has a good grasp of government procedures and politics, including economics.

PPE degrees are not, as far as I'm aware, highly regarded by economists. Like podcasts, they are likely to not cover the subject in any great depth.

I'm glad you wrote that. PPE degrees at Oxford don't require economics A level. Both my children have economics as part of joint degrees and found that first year courses were at "beginner" level and quite frustrating because both studied Economics at A level. PPE courses, even those at Oxford, don't go into depth about economics. The study focus is mainly on the historic consequences of certain economic polices, eg the New Deal or Austerity. They don't do much on macro economics.

PPE degrees are not, as far as I'm aware, highly regarded by economists. Like podcasts, they are likely to not cover the subject in any great depth.

I did say earlier that I wasn't sure if Stewart's comment on his ignorance of and the need for knowledge of, the workings of the BoE were his thoughts or just a device to move the discussion along.
All I've said about it is that I agreed with him and I think that it's something all our legislators should be familiar with. I don't see what is contentious about that.

I'm not trying to be destructive of the podcast, DAR. I assume that people post things to invite comments. I commented.

He has a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Balliol College, Oxford. He completed it in two years, rather than three, which suggests a decent level of expertise, or at least knowledge, in the topic.

I didn’t realise I could watch them, too! I found that a bit distracting.

I've now watched the podcast. My impression is that that Rory Stewart has a pretty good idea what central banks do. I think he was trying to draw Carney out for the viewers.

It took me about 10 minutes to realise that the image behind Carney was a picture on the wall.

He held a very senior position in Goldman Sachs at the time of their involvement in the financial crash of 2007/8

I don't think he did. Wiki says he left Goldman Sachs in 2003.

Well, I don't understand much about economics or banking but I’m pretty sure that Carney was right about Brexit.

You do seem determined to be destructive about a podcast in which Mark Carney was the guest Maizie and I don't know why.

As you seem now to have descended into attacking my personal capacity as well as one of the podcast interviewers, I really can't see much purpose in continuing to try and discuss this with you.

As the Bank of England is the issuer of the country's currency, has responsibility for controlling inflation and is ultimately under the control of parliament I think that members of the legislative body should have at least a basic understanding of its role and operation.

You are deluding yourself if you think that ministers have any expertise in the area for which they are responsible. It is more likely than not that they don't have any. Stewart was exceptional in that he did have some expertise.

I will, of course, make my own choice of whether or not to watch or listen to a podcast. I just think they tend to skim the surface of a topic and lack depth. They also ask for excellent memory skills from the listener. You may have such skills. I don't.

Blogs are written, BTW. I don't have a problem with them

MayBee70

I listened to half of it last week; must go back to it. Must admit to having a massive crush on Mark Carney

Oh, me too! Very handsome man.

MaizieI dont know why you would think someone who was:

Minister of State for International Development
Minister of State for Africa
Minister of State for Prisons.
Secretary of State for International Development.

should necessarily know the ins and outs of how the Bank of Englad works. What makes you feel he should? Wasn't that the point of having Mark Carney as a guest?

LAs Dunning-Krugger informs, those least competent in a certain subject area overestimate their skills and that the opposite is also true. Judging his depth of knowledge in other areas, his suggestion that it's not a field well known to to him probably means he still knows more than average.

Anyway, discussing Rory Stewart is not the point. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it Maizie, I would just give it a miss next time if it's not your thing although you may miss out on guests who rarely appear elsewhere.

Sadly, for you, bloggers rarely produce text versions. As yet few written articles are also in audio, which is not just a preference for some, but the only or easiest way information can be accessed. One day maybe there will be equality of accessibility for all.

he was such a lovely person 🤔
He held a very senior position in Goldman Sachs at the time of their involvement in the financial crash of 2007/8
And, the covering up of the Greek debt so that they could join the eu/euro. All perfectly legal but kept quiet.
lovely man and Goldman Sachs banker don’t go together.

I think it’s his lovely voice and accent. It was nice to listen to the podcast and find that he was such a lovely person too. I was listening to it whilst sorting out the mould in my living room but turned it off when I moved on to another job. I’ve got so many Leading podcasts to catch up on! He spoke such sense during the referendum debate but was accused of being a ‘furriner’.

MayBee70

I listened to half of it last week; must go back to it. Must admit to having a massive crush on Mark Carney

Ahh, that's lovely ... and made me laugh (kindly). I think we have been really deprived of polite, knowledgeable people so are really enjoying those who are surfacing.

P.S I thought Carney's analysis of 'Project Fear' and it's slow approach to fruition was very good.

DaisyAnneReturns

I think Rory Stuart knows he's clever enough, so admits the area where he lacks knowledge. Is that what you meant?

I find it a bit shocking that a former minister admits to not knowing how the Bank of England and national economics works when it should be fundamental knowledge.

But perhaps he was just feigning it...perhaps it was part of the interview technique?

I listened to half of it last week; must go back to it. Must admit to having a massive crush on Mark Carney

I think Rory Stuart knows he's clever enough, so admits the area where he lacks knowledge. Is that what you meant?

MaizieD

I did watch it.

Mark Carney is a consummate diplomat, I think.

Interesting that, although he seemed to agree that austerity was needed, he was concerned that it had been targeted at the wrong sectors and caused unnecessary hardship. But he had said that he was left of centre in his politics.

Also interesting that Rory Stuart said that he was in some ignorance of economics and that it was wrong, as economics was fundamental to the understanding of how a nation functions. A bit startling in a former government minister...

I must confess that I don't like podcasts because they never really go into a topic in depth and it's more difficult to go back to a point and check what was said than it would be to refer to the written word. I had far rather read something than listen to it.

Mark Carney is a consummate diplomat, I think.

Isn't he just, Maizie

I did watch it.

Mark Carney is a consummate diplomat, I think.

Interesting that, although he seemed to agree that austerity was needed, he was concerned that it had been targeted at the wrong sectors and caused unnecessary hardship. But he had said that he was left of centre in his politics.

Also interesting that Rory Stuart said that he was in some ignorance of economics and that it was wrong, as economics was fundamental to the understanding of how a nation functions. A bit startling in a former government minister...

I must confess that I don't like podcasts because they never really go into a topic in depth and it's more difficult to go back to a point and check what was said than it would be to refer to the written word. I had far rather read something than listen to it.

Just bumping this after the weekend.