How a Libertarian Island Experiment Became an $11 Billion Nightmare
Prospera is a city-state operated by a private company on the Honduran island of Roatan. It offers businesses single-digit tax rates and the ability to choose their own regulations. Its proponents have touted it as a poverty relief initiative for the country and as the most ambitious experiment in self-governance ever undertaken.But that dream is now facing an existential crisis. A little more than a decade after Honduras changed its constitution to allow for places like Prospera, a new political party is in charge — and they’re looking to shut the whole thing down. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Industry Group’s Umar Farooq and Bloomberg’s Michael McDonald join host Sarah Holder to break down the $11 billion battle over the fate of a special economic zone in the Caribbean. Read more: A Libertarian Island Dream in Honduras Is Now an $11 Billion NightmareSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 Feb 19min
It’s Not You. There’s a Dating Recession Happening Right Now
This Valentine’s Day, as many as 13 million more Americans are single than before the pandemic. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporter Ben Steverman shares what he’s learned about the cause of this love slump and how it’s taking a toll on Americans’ hearts and on the US economy. And host Sarah Holder meets a group of singles taking matters into their own hands. Read more: The Covid Pandemic Left an Extra 13 Million Americans SingleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14 Feb 15min
How Intel Lost Its Edge
Intel invented computer processors and was a dominant supplier of chips for decades. Now AI is fuelling record demand for next-generation chips. But Bloomberg’s Ian King says Intel is no longer the go-to partner for the global tech industry, and the company is at risk of disappearing. What went wrong? Today on the show: The rise and fall of Intel, and where it could go from here. Read Ian King’s coverage of Intel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12 Feb 17min
China’s New Game Plan for Dealing With Trump Tariffs
As US President Donald Trump imposes new tariffs on China, Xi Jinping's government has had a far more muted response than it did during the trade war in Trump’s first term. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha is joined by Bloomberg editor Jenni Marsh and Bloomberg Opinion columnist Shuli Ren to unpack China’s response to Trump’s barrage of tariffs and discuss what’s at risk for both countries if they find themselves in another trade war. Read more: China’s Mr. Big Won’t Cave In to Trump for NothingFurther listening: The Tariff Wars Are Here — And They’re MessySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11 Feb 18min
For European Start-Ups, Valuation Depends On Location, Location, Location
Financial markets in Europe have long been fragmented and constrained, driving home-grown startups to list and raise capital in the US. Now, Europe is trying to reverse the trend. Can it hold onto innovative firms — and talent? Today on the show, host Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg’s Sagarika Jaisinghani about why location matters so much for startups and what Europe’s challenges mean for the region’s economic outlook.Read more: Broken Markets Hold Back Europe as Trump Amps Up the PressureSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 Feb 16min
How Much Is a Wall Street Bonus Really Worth?
It’s bonus season on Wall Street. But if you work for a bank, you know that the number you’re quoted is almost never the number you get when it comes time for that bonus to pay out. On today’s Big Take podcast, global finance reporter Laura Noonan shares what she learned by crunching the numbers on which banks deliver more or less than they promised. Read more: How Much Your Wall Street Bonus Is Really WorthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 Feb 11min
What Economists Talk About When They Talk About AI
Silicon Valley tech leaders have been brimming with optimism in recent years about the future of artificial intelligence — and investors have bet big on the transformational power of the technology. Then last week, China’s DeepSeek emerged as a disruptive force and the value of Nvidia Corp. fell by half a trillion dollars. More than ever, investors are wondering about whether big bets on AI will pay off in the long run.Bloomberg Economics Chief Economist Tom Orlik sees three cases for how AI could reshape the global economy, ranging from the rosy to the dystopian. On today’s Big Take podcast, he and host David Gura break them down and explore what that future may hold not just for companies and investors — but for us all.Read more: AI Has Rocked the Stock Market, But What Will It Do for the Economy?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 Feb 13min
What's Behind Gold's Record Rally
Shuibei, in southern China, is home to one of the world's biggest retail markets for gold. Over the past year, it's seen a boom in demand for the jewelry, sold by thousands of stallholders, as the Chinese property crisis and slowing economy spurred a flight into gold. So much so that Chinese consumers helped propel the global gold price to record highs in 2024. On today's Big Take Asia podcast, K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg's Chongjing Li about the enduring appeal of the precious metal in China, and what lies ahead. Read more: The Epicenter of China’s Gold Craze Is a Former Fishing VillageWatch, from Bloomberg Originals: What Gold’s Crazy Run Says About ChinaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31 Jan 13min
