The new age of volatility

In this episode of Suite Talk, Birchstone CEO James Arnold sits down with economist James Bennett to explore why the era of stability is over and what the next decade holds for businesses. From the end of globalisation to the rise of cybercrime, James breaks down the 10 structural shifts that are reshaping the economic landscape and what they mean for business leaders.

James Bennett is a macroeconomist at Fitch Solutions and a long-standing guest economist at Birchstone. He regularly shares insights on his blog JB Macro and was recently featured on Bloomberg Turkey. Known for his deep dives into FX, economics, markets and geopolitics, James describes himself as someone who “digs into the weeds” and is passionate about big ideas and what the future may hold.

⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
01:00 – Life in the “Nice” era: what stability looked like
04:00 – The shift from demand-driven cycles to supply-side shocks
07:00 – How globalisation reversed and populism rose
10:00 – Pandemic disruptions and the return of volatility
14:00 – Why central banks face impossible trade-offs
19:00 – The 10 structural shifts explained
44:00 – Can AI save productivity?
49:00 – What the next decade means for rates, FX and inflation

🔗 Follow James Bennett
🔗 Follow JB Macro

💡 Resources mentioned:
⬜️ Why The Next Decade Will Be Hard: Part 1
⬜️ Why The Next Decade Will Be Hard: Part 2

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