Best Smart Prosperity Institute Podcasts (2025)

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A Productivity Agenda for the Devolved Nations 1:01:37

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about a year ago1:01:37

1:01:37

In this episode of Productivity Puzzles, we examine the productivity performance of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. How do the three devolved nations perform on productivity? What are the differences and the similarities between them? How do they compare to England? The discussion features insights from Melanie Jones, John Turner, and Graeme …

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Strategic Productivity: Unlocking the UK’s Productivity Potential 54:59

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about a year ago54:59

54:59

How do different leaders within a firm think about productivity? This can vary significantly between the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Human Resources Officer, and the Chief Information Officer. How do they work with their teams on productivity-related issues? What are the opportunities and barriers they face? Host Professor Bart van Ark is jo…

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Wrapping Up 2024: Is there a productive growth path forward? 50:07

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about a year ago50:07

50:07

2024 has been quite a year. A new government, big plans, but a growth and productivity revival isn’t visible yet. These things take time. Is the UK still on track for a reset of policy to boost growth and productivity? Or is there something fundamentally wrong with how we're thinking about these subjects? Host Professor Bart van Ark is joined by: D…

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Industrial Strategy: What To Do and What Not To Do? 53:07

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about a year ago53:07

53:07

With a new government in town, industrial strategy is back. Why now? How will it help growth and productivity? How do we get it right? And, perhaps equally important, how do we make sure we don’t get it wrong this time? Host Professor Bart van Ark is joined by: Dame Kate Barker, Chair of the Universities Superannuation Scheme and Chair of The Produ…

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Business model innovation and strategic productivity 52:18

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about a year ago52:18

52:18

Why is business model innovation the key to an organisation’s productivity? What does it take to do it right? New technologies and new business practices don’t just come out of the blue. They happen because firms embed them in their processes so they can create a valuable proposition for their customers. This episode explores the challenges and opp…

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UK Election 2024: A Productivity Plan 52:20

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about a year ago52:20

52:20

The election manifestos published in the second week of June 2024 sparsely recognise the importance of productivity. This is perhaps because it's not the most glamorous topic for voters to be excited about being canvassed on their doorstep. But for any incoming government, productivity will need to run through the core of the policy agenda in the c…

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507: Unlocking Business Succession: The Power of ESOPs with Keith Butcher 24:48

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about a year ago24:48

24:48

In an interview with Jason Hartman, Keith Butcher, founder of Butcher Joseph, discusses business succession and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). With many business owners approaching retirement, ESOPs offer a tax-efficient way to transition ownership to employees. This model enhances employee retention and loyalty, providing long-term retire…

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How do business leaders think about productivity? 53:33

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about a year ago53:33

53:33

Why should firms care about productivity? How does it add to the bottom line? What exactly drives productivity? And how can you get better at it? This episode is a conversation with three current and former business leaders talking about how they think about productivity, what it means to them, and what practical productivity measures their firms u…

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Government policy and business productivity: does it help or harm? 59:31

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about a year ago59:31

59:31

What is the best thing government can do to help improve business productivity? Provide more business support? Create better conditions for doing business? Or simply, get out of the way. In other words, can government policy and business growth ever become a happy marriage? Host Professor Bart van Ark is joined by a co-host: Stephen Roper, Professo…

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Business Dynamism: is turbulence good for productivity? 53:23

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about a year ago53:23

53:23

What is business dynamism? Do we need a bit more turbulence in business creation, growth and change to get productivity up again? This episode, the first of three on the productivity of firms, looks at the mechanism between productivity and business dynamism, whether there are big differences between countries, and whether and how we can get a bit …

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Wrapping up Productivity Puzzles 2023: brief interviews with productivity experts 43:05

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about a year ago43:05

43:05

The final episode of Productivity Puzzles Season 2 examines whether 2023 has brought us closer to putting the productivity puzzle together. What are some of the most important insights from this season of the podcast? And what can we learn from The Productivity Institute's Productivity Agenda? The conversation covers the challenges in institutional…

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506: Navigating the Storm: A CEO's Tale of Business Triumph in Turbulent Times 20:45

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about a year ago20:45

20:45

Jason interviews Johnny Serpilla, former President of Camping World, about his book, "Life is Hard, but I'll be Okay", and his experiences in leadership and business. Johnny emphasizes the importance of approaching life with one heart and mind, the role of gratitude in leadership, and the impact of personal problems on work. Johnny also discusses t…

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Revisiting the UK productivity puzzle: national and regional perspectives 1:14:06

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about a year ago1:14:06

1:14:06

Is the UK Productivity Puzzle anywhere closer to being solved? Where do we see progress? And what are the pieces of the jigsaw that still need to be found? This episode of Productivity Puzzles, released during National Productivity Week, examines the outlook for productivity growth and the best policies that will lead to better outcomes. Host Profe…

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Why does the UK do so well on the Global Innovation Index? 54:34

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about a year ago54:34

54:34

How do we measure innovation and compare it across countries? And how can it be that the UK is doing so well as an innovation nation, while we seem to be underperforming on productivity? This episode of Productivity Puzzles takes a deep dive into the latest 2023 Global Innovation Index (GII) and its implications for the UK's productivity. The UK ra…

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What makes firms productive? Lessons learned from across G7 economies 51:05

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about a year ago51:05

51:05

What makes a business productive? Do businesses have a sense of what they’re good at and where to improve? This episode of Productivity Puzzles looks at the Productive Business Index produced by Be The Business, one of The Productivity Institute’s strategic partners. The index, which has been published since 2020, serves as a barometer on how busin…

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Science, Technology, Innovation and Pro-Productivity Policies 47:50

2 years ago47:50

47:50

What have policies to boost science, technology and innovation done for productivity? Which policies are most effective? Which countries have been most successful in using them? This episode of Productivity Puzzles steps away from the usual panel format to engage in a reflective conversation between Bart van Ark and Dirk Pilat, a seasoned expert wi…

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Turnaround Cities: Lessons learned for the UK 50:37

2 years ago50:37

50:37

How have some troubled cities overseas turned themselves around? What did they invest in? How did they organise themselves? Cities are concentrations of economic activity where businesses tend to locate, not just because many of their customers are there, but also because that’s where most of the skilled workers live and where – more broadly – inno…

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505: Protecting Your Online Reputation: Expert Insights from Matt Earle | Reputation.ca 27:38

2 years ago27:38

27:38

In this interview, Matt Earle from Reputation.ca discusses the problem of online reputation damage and how it can affect individuals and businesses. When negative or false information appears in Google search results, it can harm a person's reputation. Reputation.ca focuses on deleting harmful content whenever possible, but it's challenging when de…

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Artificial Intelligence and Productivity 53:24

2 years ago53:24

53:24

Will artificial intelligence rescue us from the productivity demise? If humans cannot get productivity up, can intelligent machines bring about the productivity revival? While certainly not the only digital technology that has come along in the past few decades, AI perhaps speaks to our imagination more than all those before it as it directly impac…

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Greening Productivity 52:53

2 years ago52:53

52:53

Can we make the economy greener and still be productive? Or even better, can productivity help us to make the economy greener? This episode of Productivity Puzzles examines what climate change and the transition to a Net Zero means for productivity, and whether the challenges to green the economy make it even harder to raise productivity. Crucially…

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Can We Make the Four-Day Week Work? 52:36

2 years ago52:36

52:36

Is the five-day work week becoming something of the past? Does working less make us and the organisations that we work for better off? Could it even make us more productive? This episode explores the four-day work week, which has become a popular topic in the media, chats at the water-cooler, and, more recently, in boardrooms. With more firms commi…

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Skills, Innovation, and Productivity: Further Education Colleges and Place 53:54

2 years ago53:54

53:54

How do Further Education Colleges contribute to the provision of skills needed for innovation and productivity in regions, cities and towns? How do they identify what businesses need, and how do they work with firms, local government and other schools? This episode of Productivity Puzzles focuses on the findings of a summary report looking into the…

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Science and Innovation Policy for Hard Times 54:32

2 years ago54:32

54:32

There is a new UK government department for science, innovation, and technology. Will the new standalone entity turn Britain into the science superpower that it hopes to become? Will the new department lift productivity growth during the hard times that the country is currently facing? This episode of Productivity Puzzles investigates these issues …

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Global and European Productivity Outlook 2023-2030 53:31

2 years ago53:31

53:31

What do we know about where productivity is heading? What will happen to productivity in the UK, around Europe, and even around the world? This episode takes a forward-looking perspective on future productivity and what needs to be done to realise that productivity potential. What policy changes can be made and what measures can businesses implemen…

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The Productivity Policy Agenda: Short-Term Priorities and Long-Term Commitments 1:00:47

3 years ago1:00:47

1:00:47

Should the next Prime Minister embrace productivity as a cornerstone of the policy agenda for the new UK government in September? Can it help to get us through the economic winter ahead of us, and onto a path of sustained recovery? What policies are most critical, what should be continued, strengthened or perhaps stopped? The final episode of Seaso…

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504: How to Self-Publish Your Book! Chandler Bolt, Self-Publishing School 20:36

3 years ago20:36

20:36

A book is the new business card and a great way to grow your business! Chandler Bolt is an investor, advisor, the CEO of Self-Publishing School & SelfPublishing.com, and the author of 6 bestselling books including his most recent book titled “Published.” Self-Publishing School is an INC 5000 company the last 3 years in a row as one of the 5,000 fas…

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503: Todd Duncan & High Trust Selling: The Holy Grail of Sales Influence 42:27

3 years ago42:27

42:27

It takes a lifetime to build trust, and a minute to lose it. Jason Hartman welcomes Todd Duncan, author, speaker and the world’s leading authority on trust! People thrive on trust and the bigger the financial decision, the more trust is necessary. How can you create that? Todd also reminds us that nobody gets a paycheck for being busy! Managing you…

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Making Public Sector Productivity Practical 49:37

3 years ago49:37

49:37

Despite showing slow productivity growth over the past decade, the public sector has performed better than the private sector and there is quite a bit of scope for further improvement. This instalment of Productivity Puzzles delves into how and why productivity could grow in the public sector. This episode is a prelude to the publication of the Mak…

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Productivity and well-being 50:08

3 years ago50:08

50:08

How can productivity benefit not just business and the economy, but also ourselves? What does it take for a society to grow productivity and raise well-being? Can digital technology make us happier, as well as more productive? In this episode, we look at which investments are needed to create more well-being and what role social factors, such as tr…

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The Wales Productivity Challenge 52:22

3 years ago52:22

52:22

Did you know that the manufacturing sector in Wales accounts for a larger share of the economy than elsewhere in the UK? That the Welsh economy is also developing exciting new activities in arts and culture and tackling the difficult balancing act between raising productivity and improving health and well-being head on? In this episode, we take a d…

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Can productivity rescue the global economic recovery? 29:50

3 years ago29:50

29:50

Are economies making the most of their human and material resources? Through most of modern history, we've assumed that progress in technology and efficiency will make every person employed and our work more productive over time. Is this a hopeful trend? Is it still holding true? Will it hold true throughout the 21st Century? This special episode o…

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Restarting the Future: How Intangibles Can Fuel Productivity 54:01

3 years ago54:01

54:01

Why has economic growth slowed down? Have we already exhausted the benefits from the digital revolution? Are the trusted institutions of the 20th century now failing in the investments most needed for future growth in productivity? This episode takes a deep dive into the book Restarting the Future: How to Fix the Intangible Economy, which provides …

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Staying productive in uncertain times 55:19

3 years ago55:19

55:19

How do we respond to uncertainties that crises create? Are they holding us back in investing, hiring and innovating? Or can crises make us more agile and resilient, perhaps even more creative and inventive? How do we balance risks and opportunities? And what might that mean for productivity? The combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit and the …

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Mar 31: Are electric vehicles at a tipping point in Canada? 28:40

3 years ago28:40

28:40

Are electric vehicles at a tipping point? The price of gasoline is spiking and suddenly so is demand for electric vehicles. Though Canada has been behind its peers when it comes to EV adoption, with only 5% of new vehicle purchases being electric in 2021, that could change quickly. Are we at a tipping point? This episode shares the latest data on m…

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502: Dr. Peter McCullough, Mandates, Misinformation, Censorship & The Thought Police 38:51

3 years ago38:51

38:51

Join Jason today as he welcomes Dr. Peter McCullough, MD. Dr. McCullough has over 50 peer-reviewed papers and is an extremely credible person in the medical field. You can also watch the video NOT on YouTube (having been censored) but on Jason’s other video sites: JasonHartman.com/Rumble JasonHartman.com/Bitchute JasonHartman.com/Odysee After recei…

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501: Russia’s War on Ukraine: Peter Zeihan & Russian New World Order, NATO, Economic & Agricultural Fallout 27:55

3 years ago27:55

27:55

Today, Jason welcomes geopolitical expert Peter Zeihan to the show today to discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Peter discusses Putin’s motivations, Russia’s demographics and energy exports and if the response from the West will be enough to stop this conflict. What are the short and long term economic and agricultural implications …

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500: Mark Victor Hansen, Ask! The Bridge From Your Dreams to Reality, Jason Hartman University Live Event 29:50

3 years ago29:50

29:50

The legendary Mark Victor Hansen, best selling author, real estate investor and entrepreneur is Jason's guest in today's 10th episode, talking about his new book, Ask!: The Bridge from Your Dreams to Your Destiny. Most people have beautiful dreams deep inside—the things they would like to have, the relationships they’d love to enjoy, and the wellne…

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New business formation and productivity 50:02

3 years ago50:02

50:02

Why do we need new firms? How important is business creation for employment and productivity? How has the coronavirus pandemic affected the churning of businesses? In this episode of Productivity Puzzles, we discuss business dynamism, which is about the birth, growth and decline of businesses, also called churning. The evidence shows that churning …

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Mar 16: How did solar get so cheap? 1:07:34

3 years ago1:07:34

1:07:34

How did solar get so cheap? This episode comes courtesy of the smart folks at Energy vs. Climate podcast. Solar energy is the good news story of the 21st century so far. How did a clean energy technology drop from costing 105 dollars per watt of electricity down to just 20 cents over the span of a few decades? And how can other clean technologies r…

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The Links Between Productivity and Pay 52:06

3 years ago52:06

52:06

Productivity is key to sustained economic growth, but how does it make each of us financially better off? Do productivity gains always end up in our pockets in terms of better pay? In this episode, we’ve invited scholars from the US, Canada and the UK to discuss their recent research, published in the International Productivity Monitor, which sugge…

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Ep 32: What next for Conservatives and climate change? 25:21

3 years ago25:21

25:21

Canada's conservative party is back to the drawing board to come up with a climate plan. What does a credible conservative climate agenda look like in 2022? Is carbon pricing part of the package? Conservative insider Ken Boessenkool talks about the state of his party and how to mend a climate rift spreading in the rank and file. w/ Ken Boessenkool …

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Feb 16: Carbon capture - why climate experts are divided over it 33:45

3 years ago33:45

33:45

Despite being the world's second-biggest cause of climate change, most projections tell us that oil can be part of a climate friendly future. How so? The answer lies in a technology called Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage - or CCUS. But not everyone agrees that CCUS is a climate solution. This episode hears from both sides of the debate, and …

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499: Franchising with Jon Ostenson of Franbridge Consulting 24:06

3 years ago24:06

24:06

Register for the VIRTUAL LIVE Creating Wealth conference on January 28 and 29, 2022.Visit JasonHartman.com today! Meet Jon Ostenson of Franbridge Consulting. Today, he and Jason talk about the world of NON-FOOD franchising and how more and more people are discovering how lucrative owning a franchise can be. Franchising is the better path for many w…

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498: 12 Week Year by Brian Moran- Achieve More in 12 Weeks Than Others Do In 12 months 27:43

3 years ago27:43

27:43

Register for the VIRTUAL LIVE Creating Wealth conference on January 28 and 29, 2022.Visit JasonHartman.com today! In today’s 10th episode Jason welcomes an old friend, Brian Moran, author of the best-selling book The 12 Week Year-The guide to shortening your execution cycle down from one year to twelve weeks. Most organizations and individuals work…

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Levelling Up and Productivity: The Role of Industrial Policy, Institutions and Fiscal Mechanisms 54:24

3 years ago54:24

54:24

How do we level up regions in a sustained manner - raising productivity and living standards, and reducing inequalities? Why do institutions matter and what should change to make it work? The government introduced its Levelling Up agenda to the UK as part of its 2019 election manifesto and a long-promised White Paper on the subject is expected soon…

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Dec 8: The biggest green economy stories of 2021 45:17

3 years ago45:17

45:17

Phew, we did it, one more year of survival for the human race! To celebrate, we bring you the best and worst of the green economy in 2021. Four of Canada’s top journalists join host Eric Campbell for a fun retrospective on the year’s top stories: the triumphs, the failures, the surprises and the cruel ironies. And, because there’s a lot riding on t…

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Health and Productivity in the Workplace 50:43

3 years ago50:43

50:43

Are healthy workers productive workers? And if so, why do companies still struggle to put health and well-being at the centre of good business performance? And how can this be changed? In this episode, host Bart van Ark is joined by Sir Cary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Alliance Manchester Business School. He’s a wor…

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Nov 24: The post-covid fossil fuel boom 31:20

3 years ago31:20

31:20

The post-covid fossil fuels boom Don’t look now but the world is in a fossil fuels boom. As the economy bounces back from covid-19, the global demand for oil, gas and coal is skyrocketing. Yet didn't international leaders just make new climate pledges that promise to cut out these fossil fuels? How do we make sense of this contradiction? How long w…

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Can labour shortages help raise productivity? 42:51

3 years ago42:51

42:51

How do we keep our shelves stocked for Christmas? Can we be sure our favourite restaurant will stay open? Does the NHS have the staff to reduce ever-growing waiting lists? Can productivity growth help to face the challenges of rising labour shortages in the UK economy? In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the issue of an increased shortag…

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Nov 10: Are your savings fuelling climate change? 29:42

3 years ago29:42

29:42

Are your savings fuelling climate change? Canadians are sitting on record levels of savings. These household savings are being leveraged, in turn, by banks and pension funds to make major investments. But what kinds of investments? Are your savings being used to finance major fossil fuel projects? What is your bank and your pension fund doing with …

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