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Artwork for The Capitalist
Labour Party
Conservative Party
United Kingdom
UK Economy
Donald Trump
Capx
Reform UK
Online Safety Act
Brexit
Rachel Reeves
Nigel Farage
UK Politics
Tariffs
Keir Starmer
Margaret Thatcher
Ukraine
Economic Growth
Kemi Badenoch
European Union
Ofcom

The Capitalist: where economics meets politics. New episodes every Wednesday. briefing.capx.co

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes353Founded10 years ago
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NewsGovernment

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Artwork for The Capitalist

Latest Episodes

‘American firms dominate the tech industry and so almost any domestic digital regulation a foreign government passes will land disproportionately on US companies.’

The Trump administration has admonished its British counterparts over digital regulat... more

Why do so many people – on the Right as well as the Left – look back fondly on a pre-industrial world they would never actually want to live in?

This week on The Capitalist, Chelsea Follett of the Cato Institute speaks with Marc Sidwell about her ne... more

‘You cannot reform what you cannot measure, and Britain cannot presently measure corporate welfare in any meaningful way.’

From support for wind farms to assorted tax reliefs, corporate welfare receives far less attention than voter welfare, but Ala... more

What does the fight for free markets look like in 2026 – and how can Britain escape its high-debt, high-tax, low-growth doom loop?

Liam Halligan, the new Director of the Centre for Policy Studies – and so now in charge of CapX as well – joins Marc S... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Chelsea Follett
Author and economist
Author of The Grim Old Days
Episode: Chelsea Follett: the past was worse than you think
Alan Hibben
Co-author of Suffocated by Tribunals, former MD in RBC Capital Markets M&A group
CapX article author
Episode: Best of CapX: Corporate welfare is Britain’s blind spot
Liam Halligan
Director of the Centre for Policy Studies; policy commentator
Centre for Policy Studies; CapX
Episode: Liam Halligan: Britain needs saving from itself
Daniel Hannan
British Conservative politician and author, Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)
Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)
Episode: Daniel Hannan: our debt is now a national security threat
Damian Green
Former first secretary of state and acting chair of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
Former UK Government roles
Episode: Best of CapX: Don't let China win the AI standards war
Jonn Elledge
Author of 31 Inventions That Built Our World; former CapX columnist
CapX
Episode: Jonn Elledge: how we invented the city
Dalibor Rohac
Author of Unshackled; economist and commentator
Episode: Dalibor Rohac: capitalism can save the West
Richard Hanania
Author of Kakistocracy: Why Populism Ends in Disaster; political economist
Author, CapX interviewee
Episode: Richard Hanania: Can you trust a populist?
Alex Tabarrok
Economist and co-founder of Marginal Revolution
George Mason University / Marginal Revolution
Episode: Alex Tabarrok: Britain's equal pay madness

Host

Mark Sidwell
Editor of CapX; host of Dispatch segments; frequent policy commentator.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 57 ratings
  • Incisive stuff

    Great guests, great commentary, and well edited.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dec Tenor 1
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • World Class

    These very topical chats are insightful and expertly led by the Capx team without being partisan.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CrispianD
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • Always interesting please use a microphone

    Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have clarity of interviewer and interviewee

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Egalata
    Australia7 years ago
  • Cracking content

    Time and again content that isn’t just following the popular crowd, CapX are producing some absolute corkers and I’m really enjoying it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MrGareth
    United Kingdom7 years ago
  • Wonderful discussion

    It would be great to hear a talk by Alex Epstein “The morale case for fossil fuel “

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kim Ill Baba
    Australia8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners note sound quality and pacing could be improved.
Guest variety and strong policy focus appeal to listeners who want rigor and relevance.
Shows are praised for avoiding partisan boilerplate and providing thoughtful policy critique.
Episodes are seen as topically relevant and insightful for policy-oriented audiences.

Top News Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Chelsea Follett: the past was worse than you think
Q: What was the most shocking finding you uncovered while researching the preindustrial world?
Among the many shocks, the ubiquity of violence and the normalization of severe mistreatment—such as brutal entertainment, widespread animal torture, and systematic discrimination—stood out, revealing that the past was far harsher than many modern narratives accept.
Chelsea Follett: the past was worse than you think
Q: Why do you think people romanticize the preindustrial past, imagining a simpler, lovelier village life?
I think it's a combination of selective memory and human nostalgia; people tend to focus on idealized images while erasing the brutal, daily realities that made those lives precarious, especially when contrasted with today's longer lifespans, higher living standards, and technological progress.
Daniel Hannan: our debt is now a national security threat
Q: Do you think the policy shift during lockdowns will have lasting political consequences for free-market supporters?
The situation underscored the need to communicate that economic prosperity and public health are not mutually exclusive; we must show how thoughtful market-based policies can deliver resilience without surrendering individual freedoms.
Dalibor Rohac: capitalism can save the West
Q: What lessons can be drawn from China without copying its model?
We should recognize where China excels (scaling, coordination, and some technology sectors) but push back where it conflicts with liberal institutions, aiming to deploy asymmetric responses that protect Western values and economic freedom.
Dalibor Rohac: capitalism can save the West
Q: Is there room for optimistic reform under a polarized political landscape?
Yes, by highlighting shared interests in growth, security, and prosperity, and by promoting policy experiments that demonstrate tangible gains, potentially drawing cross-party support for pivotal reforms.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Capitalist

What is The Capitalist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A politically-leaning economics briefing that features sharp policy analysis and candid debates on fiscal rules, welfare reform, devolution, and regulatory design. Guests range from prominent economists to senior policymakers and politicians, with a consistent thread of scrutinizing government accounting, growth, and market-oriented reform. The format tends to mix long-form conversations with policy critiques and scenario-driven discussions, often tying UK fiscal strategy to broader global economic dynamics. A notable strength is its ability to pair technical economic critique with accessible political commentary, making it useful for listeners who want both context and practical implications for policy and business strategy. A potential st... more

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1. Coffee House Shots
2. The Edition
3. Quite right!
4. Planet Normal
5. The spiked podcast

How many episodes of The Capitalist are there?

The Capitalist launched 10 years ago and published 353 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Capitalist?

Recent guests on The Capitalist include:

1. Chelsea Follett
2. Alan Hibben
3. Liam Halligan
4. Daniel Hannan
5. Damian Green
6. Jonn Elledge
7. Dalibor Rohac
8. Richard Hanania

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