In this episode Indypodcasters Fiona and Marlene sit down with economist and educator Jim Byrne to talk about his new online course, MMT101: A Beginner’s Guide to Modern Monetary Theory. Designed to make Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) accessible to everyone, Jim’s course breaks down complex economic ideas into clear, understandable lessons. Learn more at MMT101.org.
We also invite Jim to weigh in on some key ideas from orthodox economics—concepts we've heard discussed in various recent current affairs podcast episodes with experts from the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Jim offers fresh insights by translating these mainstream views through the lens of MMT, helping listeners understand how MMT challenges conventional thinking about government spending, taxation, and deficits.
Whether you're new to MMT or curious about how economic theory shapes public policy, this episode offers an engaging, jargon-free introduction to alternative economic thinking.
📌 Topics covered:
00:00:38    Jim outlines his new MMT course
00:08:18    A peek at the course - MMT Basics
00:09:48    The cost of saving the planet
00:13:39     300 years of deficit
00:18:22     You have the currency, do you have the resources?
00:24:32      But...what about the big black hole?
00:28:37      Why is the UK worse than Germany?
00:34:57      So whose taxes will pay for it all?
00:40:38      Does it matter what we tax?
00:49:56       Does it all come down to sovereignty?
00:54:48        How will we fund future spending?
Find out more about Jim's course and weekly substack here: https://mmt101.org
#indypodcasters #mmt #economics
With thanks to The News Agents and The Rest is Money for short clips included in this podcast.
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Music:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod