Flywheel Economics Podcast

Housing has no shortage of statistics, yet somehow it still has a shortage of homes people can actually afford. Perhaps the problem is not that we lack data, but that we have been measuring symptoms instead of diagnosing the wider system.In this episode of the Flywheel Economics Podcast, we explore why affordable housing should be understood as an ecosystem rather than a single market problem. Join Favour Ogbadu, Dan Simpkins and Richard Ough for a deep dive into the hidden barriers that shape housing affordability from land, planning, and infrastructure to finance, transport, informal income, and local context. The conversation asks a crucial question: if building more homes is the obvious answer, why does the shortage still persist? Together, they unpack why a house can be affordable as a product but unaffordable as a home, why standard metrics often miss access and inclusion, and how a global affordable housing index could help countries identify the real constraints holding them back.Stay connected: Subscribe to our newsletter: flywheeleconomics.com Join the conversation on social media: @flywheeleconomics

When you look at urban sprawl from a satellite, "building vertically" feels like a solved math problem. But down on the streets of Kano, high-density housing raises complex cultural, structural, and financial questions.In this episode of the Flywheel Economics Podcast, we launch Season 2 of our Affordable Housing Miniseries with an in-depth look at the viability of "vertical cities" in Kano, Nigeria. Stepping away from desktop research, we sit down with a local architect to explore the ground-level realities of design, culture, and economic inequality. The question we answer is: are high-density, multi-story buildings the future of African urbanisation or are we trying to force a high-rise into a compound-shaped culture?Special thanks to our guest, Mariya Aminu Kabir (Architect and Consultant), for her invaluable insights. Connect with Mariya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariyaaminukabir/For the World Bank article referenced (Pancakes to Pyramids: City Form to Promote Sustainable Growth), see here: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/35684Stay connected: Subscribe to our newsletter: flywheeleconomics.comJoin the conversation on social media: @flywheeleconomics

Can an economy be stable if the people living in it don't feel secure?That question sits at the heart of the IMF's 2026 Article IV Consultation on Nigeria. The report commends the country's recent economic reforms, from exchange rate liberalisation to banking reforms, yet it also warns of persistent poverty, food insecurity and rising pressure on households.In this episode of the Flywheel Economics Podcast, we explore the paradox of an economy that appears stronger on paper while many Nigerians continue to struggle in practice. From fiscal policy and bank recapitalisation to stablecoins and economic sovereignty, we unpack what the IMF's latest assessment really tells us about Nigeria's economic future.If you've read the headlines, this conversation goes one step further, asking not just whether the reforms are working, but who they're working for.Stay connected: Subscribe to our newsletter: flywheeleconomics.comJoin the conversation on social: @flywheeleconomics

In this Flywheel Economics Podcast episode, we sit down with Annika Burke to explore how to move beyond the traditional career ladder toward a model of intentional career development. Annika makes the case for "crafting" a career rather than climbing, actively shaping your path through what you say yes to, what you say no to, and the skills and experiences you combine over time. It's a practical, encouraging conversation for anyone in economics, climate, or development who's navigating a moment of real uncertainty in the sector and asking whether to stay the course.Special thanks to our guest, Annika Burke (Development Economist and Leadership Coach) for her invaluable insights.Connect with Annika: Substack: https://annikaburke.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chipsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annika-burke-0a447134/Stay connected: Subscribe to our newsletter: flywheeleconomics.comJoin the conversation on social: @flywheeleconomics

The global economy is entering a period of profound re-calibration. In the latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF paints a sobering picture of an era defined by the "shadow of war."In this Flywheel Economics Podcast episode, we move beyond the headlines to unpack the mechanics of this shift. We explore how conflict in the Middle East translates into inflationary pressure at your local gas pump, why the current wave of debt-financed military spending poses a long-term risk to growth, and whether the rise of "Agentic AI" can provide the productivity surge needed to pay for it all. Join us as we dissect the trade-offs defining the global economic landscape in 2026.Stay connected: Subscribe to our newsletter: flywheeleconomics.comJoin the conversation on social: @flywheeleconomics

Economies as ecosystems. Policymakers as gardeners. Yes, but what does it actually mean for the work you do on the ground?In this episode of the Flywheel Economics Podcast, Richard Ough and Favour Ogbadu pull back the curtain on the core principles of Flywheel Economics. They discuss how these principles are shaping our upcoming Toolkit, a practical, evidence-based roadmap designed to help development practitioners navigate complex development challenges.Whether you’re new to our work or looking to connect the dots between our previous case studies in Sialkot and Yaba, this is the foundational framework you need.Stay connected: Subscribe to our newsletter: flywheeleconomics.comJoin the conversation on social: @flywheeleconomics

In international development, there is an obsession with Best Practice. This leads to the adoption of a Public Financial Management reform such as Accrual Accounting under the assumption that transparency follows. However, as Andrew Keith argues, these sophisticated systems often fail because there simply are not enough trained accountants to run them.In this episode, Richard Ough, Favour Ogbadu, and Andrew Keith peel back the curtain on PFM reform. They explore the gap between policy and reality, the missing foundations required, and why a shortage of human capacity turns a gold-standard system into a digital burden.Special thanks to our guest, Andrew Keith (PFM Expert), for his invaluable insight. Read Andrew's article here: The Problem With Accrual Accounting in Developing Countries' Public SectorsSubscribe to the Flywheel Economics Podcast, visit our website @flywheeleconomics.com and follow us on social media to share your thoughts on this episode @flywheeleconomics.

For decades, Nigeria’s power sector has struggled to meet the need of its population. Despite having the potential to generate 12,500 Megawatts, the daily reality for most families and businesses is a flickering 4,000 Megawatts. This isn't just an infrastructure problem; it’s a systemic one.In this episode of the Flywheel Economics Podcast, we sit down with Patrick O. Okigbo III, Founder of Nextier, to deconstruct the boldest attempt in a generation to turn the lights on. We are moving away from government subsidies and toward powerful reforms designed to transform the electricity sector in Nigeria including a model where individual states have the power to build, regulate, and sustain their own energy ecosystems.This conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the mechanics of change and the hard choices required for a new dawn in Nigeria.Special thanks to our guest, Patrick Okigbo III (Founding Partner, Nextier), for his invaluable insights.About Flywheel Economics: We facilitate discussions on treating economies as ecosystems. By identifying and supporting natural flywheels, we explore how to enable sustained and equitable growth in the world’s most complex markets.Join the Conversation: If this episode resonates, subscribe to the podcast and share it with your network. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and X @flywheeleconomics and visit our website @flywheeleconomics.com for the full Flywheel toolkit!