RECONOMY - Podcast Details

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The REconomy PodcastUnderstanding the Supply Side Challenges – Why Can’t We Build More Homes Where People Want to Live? - Summer School Series - EP 120In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi continue season two of The REconomy Summer School series with an in-depth look at the supply side of the housing market, explaining the long-term structural shortage in the nation’s supply of housing and the challenges limiting builders’ efforts to build more homes in the places people want to live. 2025-07-1718 min

The REconomy PodcastWhy Life Events Still Drive Home-Buying Demand Despite Affordability Challenges - Summer School Series - EP 119In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi reconvene season 2 of The REconomy Summer School series with an in-depth discussion of the factors that drive the decision to buy a home – from lifestyle events like marriage, children, and career changes to economic realities like affordability, inventory, and credit constraints – and what that means for today’s housing market. 2025-07-0314 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat is the Foundation of Housing Demand in the U.S.? - Summer School Series - EP 118In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi call class back into session as they kick off season 2 of The REconomy Summer School with an in-depth look at the foundation of housing demand – household formation, who forms households and when, and what even counts as a household. 2025-06-1915 min

Action HourBuilding Tool Libraries And Economies Of Sharing With Josh EpsteinOn this episode of Action Hour, Amanda chats with Seattle REconomy’s Executive Director Josh Epstein about their Northeast Seattle and Shoreline tool libraries, how to build a tool library of your own, and the societal and environmental benefits of creating circular economies of reuse and sharing. Learn more about Seattle REconomy: https://seattlereconomy.org/ Learn more about how to build your own tool library: www.sharable.net 2024-09-2757 min

The REconomy PodcastUrban Economics 101 - REconomy Summer School - EP 98In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, the seventh and final episode in the Summer School series, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi delve into urban economics, from zoning regulations to land use patterns, examining the dynamics of monocentric and polycentric cities, while exploring the potential impact of remote work on traditional urban models. 2024-09-1213 min

The REconomy PodcastUnderstanding the Lifecycle of a Mortgage - REconomy Summer School - EP 97In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, the sixth in the “Summer School” series, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi trace the journey of mortgages, shedding light on how the U.S. stands out with its 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, while exploring how this unique loan product shapes the accessibility and stability of the nation’s housing market. 2024-08-2912 min

The REconomy PodcastCracking the Code of House Prices and Affordability - REconomy Summer School - EP 96In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, the fifth in the “Summer School” series, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi dissect the various methodologies for measuring housing affordability and discuss why traditional measures often get it wrong. 2024-08-1515 min

The REconomy PodcastThe Trinity of Commercial Real Estate Returns - REconomy Summer School - EP 95In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explore capitalization rates – what they are, how they work, and why they matter – with Senior Commercial Economist Xander Snyder in the fourth episode of The REconomy Podcast Summer School series. 2024-08-0115 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat Makes Real Estate “Commercial”? - REconomy Summer School - EP 94In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi continue the REconomy “Summer School” series, discussing what makes real estate “commercial” with Senior Economist Xander Snyder. 2024-07-1814 min

The REconomy PodcastHomeownership Drivers and Benefits - REconomy Summer School - EP 93In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi continue the REconomy “Summer School” series, breaking down the fundamental drivers and benefits of homeownership and explaining how these dynamics are playing out in today’s housing market. 2024-07-0515 min

The REconomy PodcastThe Complete Guide to Home Purchase and Closing - REconomy Summer School - EP 92In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi kick of the REconomy “Summer School” series with a deep dive into the residential home-buying and closing process, explaining the steps and the key players involved – from mortgage pre-approval to contract negotiation to title, settlement and the closing. 2024-06-2016 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYFrom Fragmentation to Fusion: Uniting Western Balkans Through BPO & ICT Join us on Episode 34 of Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMY, as we explore the potential of the Western Balkan region in transforming its economic landscape through business process outsourcing (BPO) and information and communications technology (ICT). Hosted by Sabin, this videocast features an engaging discussion with distinguished guests from the Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL). Guests: Nadina Gradaščević, Managing Director and Vice President of ABSL Bosnia and Herzegovina Arjodita Mustali, President of ABSL Albania Eni Kocillari, representative of Helvetas in the frame of RECONOMY Through this dialogue, we uncover how these efforts are not only addressing market fra...2024-04-1738 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYDigitalizing Growth: Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Agriculture Join us in Episode 33 of Inclusive Plug, brought to you by RECONOMY, where our host, Sabin, engages with a panel of experts to explore the role of digital technologies in sustainable agriculture. This conversation 🎙️ features insights from Mihran Sahakyan, the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of SkyAgro, Bojan Kolundzija, the Team Leader of the OPTIM project in Moldova (a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, implemented by Helvetas), and Alla Hovhannissyan, a Project Manager at the Strategic Development Agency (responsible for one of RECONOMY's projects focusing on digitizing sectors for competitiveness) - a partner of Helvetas in th...2024-02-1336 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYDecoding Employment: Expectations vs Reality in Development Welcome to another episode of Inclusive Plug, brought to you by RECONOMY. In this episode, we delve into the complex world of employment, dissecting what it means to create ‘decent’ and ‘inclusive’ jobs in a rapidly evolving labor market. 🔊 Featured Experts: Katharina Walker: Senior Advisor on Skills Development, Helvetas Hans Posthumus: Trainer and Consultant on Private Sector Development Paulo Rodrigues: Program Manager, RECONOMY, Helvetas 📝 In This Episode: Defining Decent and Inclusive Employment: Insights from Katharina and Hans on what these terms really mean in today's context. The Importance of Green Jobs: Paulo and Katharina discuss the significance of 'green jobs' and thei...2024-01-1143 min

Dangerous WisdomWisdom and the One-Day Incubator - Dialogue with Jay Tompt of Schumacher CollegeJay Tompt joins us for some economic reflections in the spirit of E.F. Schumacher. As part of our dialogue, Jay shares an inspiring idea you can put top use in your own community, to germinate sprouts of wisdom, love, and beauty: The One-Day Incubator.Jay is a co-founder of the Totnes REconomy Centre, a lecturer for Regenerative Economics at Schumacher College, an associate lecturer in economics at Plymouth University as well as a regular teacher on our post-graduate economics programmes. He co-developed the Transition Network REconomy Project’s Local Economic Blueprint course and handbook, co-founded the REc...2023-10-121h 13

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYExploring Energy Efficiency Frontiers in the Western BalkansIn Episode 31, we are joined by Dr. Risto Ivanov, a senior expert in managing EU and national projects in North Macedonia with extensive knowledge in energy-efficient construction and renovation. With his plethora of qualifications and hands-on experience, Risto guides us through an in-depth exploration of the energy landscape in the Western Balkans, from historical shifts to major policy shifts and future predictions. Some of the questions explored: - How has the Western Balkans' approach to energy efficiency evolved over the years? - What are the primary sources of power in the Western Balkan countries? - What are the major...2023-10-0236 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYArtificial Intelligence Unveiled: The Future of Green and Inclusive DevelopmentKiller robots and autonomous weapons. Global unemployment. Mass surveillance. Superintelligence. There are a host of fears about artificial intelligence (AI) and related industries such as machine learning (ML). But what exactly are they? How are they being used? What, if anything, do they offer the development sector? Are we at the beginning of a fundamental transformation of a business model that, in many ways, is no longer fit for purpose? Will they trigger an industry-wide digital disruption that will challenge the dominance of the largest development organizations, or serve to exacerbate the divide between the developed and the less...2023-09-0525 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYStories Beyond Theories: Effective Communication About MSDIn Episode 29, we dive into the challenges of pitching ideas and convincing partners or donors to adopt and act upon them. Even if you have a brilliant idea, selling it can be trickier than selling a product or service. This is where the market systems development (MSD) approach comes in. Despite the progress in applying and generating relevant practices and evidence, there are several misperceptions about the approach, partly due to the way it is communicated. This episode features a special conversation with Masha Scholl, Coordinator for International Communications at Helvetas; Nasir Ahmed, Chief Technical Officer at the AIP-PRISMA...2023-06-1338 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYFrom the Ground Up: Understanding the Inception Phases of Regional Programs The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency launched RECONOMY in July 2020, a regional program that applies the MSD approach, spanning 11 countries from the Western Balkan and the Eastern Partnership regions. The inception phase finished in December 2022 for the Eastern Partnership region and in March this year for the Western Balkan region. RECONOMY was conceived with a regional remit from the outset – testing the applicability of MSD principles to the challenges posed by using a whole region that comprises 11 countries as a unit of analysis, with their differing operational and contextual realities. For this reason, this episode features a special conversation wi...2023-05-3028 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYMobility is No Longer a "Buzzword": How Has Mobility Become Mainstream? Mobility is no longer a “buzzword” or just the “hottest new shiny thing”. Today, mobility is mainstream, and it’s a business strategy that can’t be overlooked any longer. The way we work has slowly but surely been shifting towards a more dynamic and fluid way of working, and the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated the development of these trends significantly. This has had an impact on organizations as whole, but what does this mean for mobility? This episode features a special conversation with Blerta Peta, an international development professional with a focus on issues of youth employ...2023-04-1137 min

FuturePrint Podcast#111 - Tackling Recycling Challenges in Print & Graphics, with Jon Hutton, Reconomy (An EcoPrint Special)Send us a textIn this episode of the EcoPrint podcast, Karis Copp speaks to Jon Hutton, Director of Reconomy. Jon discusses his career in the recycling industry, and how his focus turned to print.Karis and Jon talk about the recycling challenges in different sectors, looking at the unique issues in the wide-format space, and the steps that need to be taken to improve and enhance recycling processes and infrastructure. They also take a closer look at Reconomy’s partnership with FESPA to provide a recycling accreditation scheme.Get your tickets to the Ec...2023-03-2031 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYEmerging Europe: Towards a Game Development Hub?There are more than 2.5 billion people playing games at the moment. They are from all over the world. And the gaming industry is now looking to its 'next billion'. Yes, you read this right. The industry has become a career choice for young people. It's offering new ways to make a living that didn't exist a decade ago. Let's take you through arguably one of the most important and innovative sectors in tech today, especially in emerging Europe like the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan regions. This episode features a special conversation with Kristina...2023-02-1326 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYDoes Labelling Matter in Development?The way we describe people shapes how we perceive and act toward them. Terms and words that are used in development seem to indicate who holds power and who doesn’t. But then, does this matter? Sometimes it may not matter what we call someone. Rather the way we treat and approach someone is more important than the description or labeling. A fascinating discussion with Nabanita Sen Bekkers, Director of Opportunities Unlimited, also Nabanita is part of the DCED secretariat focusing on the results measurement work; Duncan Green, a professor in practice in international development at the Lo...2022-12-2129 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat Does Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Mean for the Housing Market? - EP 47In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain the connection between educational attainment and homeownership, and how student loan debt forgiveness may impact the housing market. 2022-09-2213 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYHow Can We Make Information and Communications Technologies Work for Development?The use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) have increased throughout the world, particularly after the advent of the Internet. Statistics show that most people living in the developed economies have access to ICTs in one form or another, but this is not the case for people living in developing economies. Some of the questions explored in this episode are: how can these countries, especially in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership region, take advantage of the opportunities generated by ICTs? And how can the vulnerable groups in these countries benefit from ICTs? For this episode, t...2022-09-1741 min

The REconomy PodcastWelcome to the ‘Great Moderation’ of the Housing Market - EP 46In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why the housing market is adjusting to a not-so-new normal pace of price appreciation – the Great Moderation. 2022-09-0812 min

The REconomy PodcastThe State of Housing Affordability for Potential First-Time Home Buyers - EP 45In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss how housing affordability has shifted since the early spring and what that means for potential first-time home buyers. 2022-08-2512 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat is a Recession and How Do We Know When One Begins? - EP 44In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss how recessions are measured, the broader economic outlook, and implications for the housing market. 2022-08-1114 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYThe Future of the Eastern Partnership: Reboot or Beginning of the End?The Russian invasion of Ukraine fundamentally challenged the EU approach towards the future of the neighborhood countries, European security and stability, and prospects for the EU integration in the region. 13 years after the Eastern Partnership initiative was declared under the leadership of Poland and Sweden, its geopolitical success remains to be under a question mark. The strategic reason for the Eastern Partnership policy is clear: unless the EU exports stability and democratic values into its Eastern neighborhood, it risks importing instability from the region. Does the architecture of the Eastern Partnership Initiative remain to be valid, or g...2022-08-0947 min

The REconomy PodcastBreaking Down the Federal Reserve’s Efforts to Control Inflation - EP 43In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss the components driving the Consumer Price Index and the Federal Reserve’s efforts to bring inflation under control. 2022-07-2912 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat are the housing market’s leading indicators signaling about the housing market? - EP 42In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss which key housing market metrics are leading indicators and share their analysis of what each leading indicator is signaling about the direction of the market. 2022-07-1413 min

The REconomy PodcastHow Will Rising Interest Rates Impact Commercial Real Estate Cap Rates? - EP 41In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss how rising interest rates may impact commercial real estate cap rates using their proprietary Potential Cap Rate Model. 2022-06-3013 min

The REconomy PodcastHere’s How We Know that Housing Supply is Still Low - EP 40In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi walk through several measures of housing supply and what those housing supply measures tell us about the housing market. 2022-06-1612 min

The REconomy PodcastDon’t be Alarmed by the Increase in ARMs - EP 39In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why the recent increase in adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) does not necessarily signal an impending housing bust. 2022-06-0213 min

The REconomy PodcastUnderstanding the Neutral Rate of Interest, Inflation and the Housing Market - EP 38In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why the neutral rate of interest is an important metric in Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation and what it means for the housing market. 2022-05-1912 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYIt Isn’t Just About the Number of Jobs, but Also the Quality of JobsSpeaking of employment, let’s admit it: we tend to care more about the number of jobs created. Ask a politician up for election, or a project manager preparing an annual report on employment… Then comes who’s getting the jobs — women, men, people from rural areas, ethnic minorities, young people. The type of jobs seems to be an afterthought despite many years of discussions. It’s high time to address this misplaced priority. So, for this episode, the guests were: - Katharina Walker - a senior advisor on skills development at Helvetas. She has provi...2022-05-1238 min

The REconomy PodcastBreaking Down the Recency Bias in Housing Market Data - EP 37In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss how recency bias is fueling some angst over trends in housing market data and explain why today’s housing market looks a lot like the 2019 housing market, which was the strongest housing market in a decade at the time. 2022-05-0511 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYClimate Crisis, Security, and Development: Are We Responding in a Sufficient Manner?The world has entered 2022 in the stage of polycrisis. Climate change poses existential threat to humanity, disproportionately affecting poorer economies predominantly based on natural resources and related economic sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Yet even the more diversified economies are vulnerable to climate change, while climate risks are of cascading nature, causing unprecedented risks for global economy and security. Phasing out fossil fuels and building the adaptation capacity are of critical urgency and importance, but are we on track to respond to this threat? The guests for this episode were: - Saleemul Huq – Di...2022-04-2133 min

The REconomy PodcastHousing Bubble or No Housing Bubble? - Ep 36In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine the health of the housing market and address the question, "Housing bubble or no housing bubble?” 2022-04-2112 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat does it mean when mortgage rates are less than the rate of inflation? - EP 35In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine the extremely rare phenomenon of real, negative mortgage rates – when the average 30-year, fixed mortgage rate is less than the rate of inflation – and explain what it means for the housing market. 2022-04-0711 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat’s the Outlook for the 2022 Spring Home-Buying Season? - EP 34In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine the housing market’s fundamentals as the 2022 spring home-buying season kicks off. 2022-03-2413 min

The REconomy PodcastWhy the Homeownership Rate Among Single Women Outpaced Single Men in 2021 - EP 33In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why single women are increasingly dispelling the traditional notion that buying a home follows love and marriage and prioritizing homeownership. 2022-03-1010 min

The REconomy PodcastWhy Approximately 66% of Americans are Protected from Shelter Inflation - EP 32In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why homeowners are protected from shelter cost inflation, but potential home buyers are not, and how rising mortgage rates is likely to further reduce the historically low supply of homes for sale. 2022-02-2412 min

FrutíferaTambor de crioula, polirritmia, danças e batuques na construção do ser brincante sobre a TerraJardineiras e jardineiros do mundo, é no pracundum dos batuques que o nosso episódio adentra a sala de seus ouvidos. O Brasil dos encantados e danças praieiras, umbigadas e cantadeiras reverencia imenso a figura de vovó, suas virtudes e ensinamentos éticos, e seu convite irresistível para uma convivência harmoniosa e de respeito aos outros e a natureza. Hoje queremos trazer a reflexão de como a polirritimia pode ser fonte de abertura para diversos convívios em harmonia. É por isso que podemos dizer que a música é capaz de abrir dimensões no campo da nossa percepção em r...2022-02-1825 min

The REconomy PodcastHow the Federal Reserve Can, and Cannot, Influence the Housing Market - EP 31In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain how the Federal Reserve and tighter monetary policy may impact the housing market in 2022. 2022-02-1111 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYDoes Location Matter in Accessing and Using Economic Opportunities?By looking at the title of this episode, you may think that ‘oh, once again the old debate about geography and economic development!’ If one is thinking about opening a coffee shop or a restaurant, then location is still an old mantra for businesses. Even in this case, businesses still need to use a well-built website, or social network campaigns to reach out to more customers. For other economic activities, globalization, mainly rapid digitalization, seems to have reduced the importance of locations. Take for example remote work, work from home, and telecommuting. Yet, dismissing the role of locat...2022-01-3134 min

The REconomy PodcastThe Five Most Affordable Cities for First-Time Home Buyers - EP 30In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why affordability should be viewed from the lens of the potential first-time home buyer and reveal the most affordable cities for first-time home buyers. 2022-01-2712 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat the Federal Reserve’s approach to inflation means for the housing market in 2022 - EP 29In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss the challenge facing the Federal Reserve in 2022 – how to tackle inflation while protecting the economic recovery – and what that means for the housing market. 2022-01-1313 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat to Expect from the Housing Market in 2022 - EP 28In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss the economic forces that will shape the housing market in 2022. 2021-12-3011 min

The REconomy PodcastWill FOMO Increase Demand in the Housing Market? - EP 27In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss how the fear of missing out (FOMO) and the fear of better options (FOBO) may impact housing demand. 2021-12-1612 min

In Search of the PluriverseGetting in the mood for Mull #2 – with Jay TomptOn the weather-beaten island of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland, two artists from the Netherlands set up camp, taking a vow to “work with the elements, not fight them”. Over time they grew a garden, a seasonal residency programme and a neighbourhood barn-in-a-barn. How to thrive and make kin with other humans and non-humans in such a remote place, year-round? The team of In Search of the Pluriverse will find out by temporarily relocating to this northern edge of Europe. Wong & Krier needed some more context before they left for the UK, Scotland, Mull. To touc...2021-12-0338 min

The REconomy PodcastExamining rising mortgage rates, housing supply, student loan debt and the future of office space - EP 26In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi field questions that are top of mind among REconomy listeners – what to expect from rising mortgage rates, the ongoing housing supply shortage, ballooning student loan debt and the future of office space. 2021-12-0217 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYHow can Freelancing Drive Inclusive Economic Development?The digitalization of many professions around the world has contributed to creating a new, competitive and innovative labor market. Self-employed people who mostly work remotely have been sharply rising in numbers in the past years. These people are called freelancers. Wherever they are based, freelancers are increasingly using digital innovation to work on their own terms, with the flexibility that their lives demand. That’s not just good for them, it’s good for businesses, too. It makes it possible for businesses to tap into workers with very specialized skills when they need them. It also allows those...2021-11-3025 min

The REconomy PodcastThe Digital Future of Mortgage Lending and Real Estate Settlement - EP 25In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss the digital future of mortgage lending and real estate settlement, and the innovative technologies that are making an end-to-end digital home-buying experience a reality with Eddie Oddo, vice president of corporate business solutions at First American. 2021-11-1824 min

The REconomy PodcastWill Inflation Drive Mortgage Rates Higher? - EP 24In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi examine rising inflation in today’s economy and what it may mean for mortgage rates. 2021-11-0411 min

The REconomy PodcastWhat is the Fed Signaling on Interest Rates? - EP 23In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi discuss how the Federal Reserve signals potential policy changes on interest rates and the tapering of its Treasury and mortgage-backed securities purchases. 2021-10-2212 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYIs the Invested Money Worth the Outcome We Achieve as MSD Projects?Market Systems Development has emerged in the past two decades as a way to better deliver large‐scale, sustainable development impact to poor and disadvantaged people. It provides a framework to understand the institutional underlying causes of negative development outcomes and a method of intervening in market systems to achieve poverty reduction sustainably. But have we ever stopped and looked in the past? Here’s where cost-benefit analysis comes into play. But is cost-benefit analysis also a learning tool which can help steer the future of a project? Why should projects conduct such analyses? And what are some...2021-10-1223 min

The REconomy PodcastThe 3 Most Important Housing Market Statistics - EP 22In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi share their expert perspective on the three most important housing market statistics to follow. 2021-10-0711 min

The REconomy PodcastWhy Labor Market Trends May Keep Mortgage Rates Near Record Lows Longer - EP 21In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why important labor market trends may influence the Federal Reserve’s decision to reverse its easy-money policies. 2021-09-2311 min

The REconomy PodcastAre House Prices More Affordable than the Housing Boom Peak? - EP 20In this episode of the REconomy Podcast™ from First American, Chief Economist Mark Fleming and Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi explain why falling mortgage rates and rising income levels mean today’s soaring house prices are still significantly more affordable than they were at the peak of the housing boom in 2006. 2021-09-0914 min

ocyclo9. Starting a transition movement in Luxemburg - about CELL with Katy FoxAn interview with Katy Fox, on how she founded the Centre for Ecological Learning Luxemburg: CELL. CELL has local groups as well as national and regional projects on i.e. permaculture, reconomy, sustainable buildings and urban gardening and has a focus on the involvement of citizens in the transition movement. How do you start such an organization? How has it developed from a group of volunteers to the professional organization with 20 employees as it is today? We also talk about Katy’s role as founder, her reasons to take a step back and leave CELL, and come back a fe...2021-08-0424 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYWhat does It Mean for a Program Applying Market Systems Development to be Regional?In partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and other implementing partners, Helvetas is leading a regional inclusive and green economic development program in Eastern Europe, South Caucuses, and Western Balkans. While designing the program, we asked ourselves ‘what a regional program would look like’. We’ve been much more interested in the value addition of such a regional program than doing more of the same initiatives that Helvetas has in different countries. So, for this episode we’ve interviewed 3 experts who have experience in working for such regional programs or initiatives: - Gina Bel...2021-07-0534 min

CirculabHow can third place act to promote a Circular Economy?"How can third place act to promote a Circular Economy? " with Annelise Meyer, co-founder of the third place L'Alternateur, based in Champigny-sur-Marne, near Paris, and a member of the Circulab community since 2019. In this podcast, Annelise talks about the concept of third places, theorized in 1989 and highly popular today in France. Annelise shares the challenges she and her associate faced when creating her third place. She explains how they plan to use L'Alternateur as a channel to promote circularity and sustainability practices toward the local community and beyond. Following...2021-07-0520 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYThe Work-From-Anywhere RevolutionCOVID-19 is transforming people’s relationship to work, with millions now out of a job. And many more getting used to working in a very different way. The pandemic has been a transformation and that raises a whole bunch of questions. Do you need as much expensive office space? And do individual workers need to commute into the office every day? The need for workers to gather together in offices has shaped almost every aspect of life. And the shift towards remote working could have far-reaching consequences. It could affect gender equality. It could even change how we...2021-06-1434 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYPutting Adaptive Management in Practice in the Time of COVID-19Fast learning and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances are critical to the market systems development approach. Market systems consist of multiple actors with their own goals and points of view and the regional program, RECONOMY, including other projects that apply the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach implemented by Helvetas, operate in complex, dynamic and unpredictable situations, and especially now that we’re in the time of COVID-19. For this episode, we have interviewed: - Albina Berisha, who’s project manager of the Enhancing Youth Employment (EYE) in Kosovo, a project of the Swi...2021-05-3121 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYDoes the Market Systems Development Approach Work in Practice? (Part II)Whether the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach works in practice is a hot topic in development. For this episode (Part II), we have interviewed: - Nabanita Sen Bekkers, who’s Results Measurement Specialist at the DCED (Donor Committee for Enterprise Development), where she leads the development of results measurement initiative including the development and dissemination of the DCED Standard for results measurement. Nabanita has 15 years of experience working in different aspects of private sector development, including implementation of projects, results measurement, communication and project development. - Mike Albu, who's a program director at BE...2021-05-0728 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYInclusive Plug powered by RECONOMY - TrailerInclusive Plug powered by RECONOMY is a video podcast that covers a range of topics, because the regional inclusive and green economic development program, RECONOMY, of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, works across different areas in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, and the Western Balkans. We highlight and explain the biggest challenges facing the regional community as well as globally at this time of great change, and what solutions RECONOMY and others are coming up with to address them.2021-04-2802 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYDoes the Market Systems Development Approach Work in Practice? (Part I)Whether the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach works in practice is a hot topic in development. For this episode, we have interviewed: - Maja Rüegg, who’s leading the working area Skills, Jobs and Income at Helvetas. She provides thematic support on market systems development for projects working on agricultural value chains and labour markets. Her advisory expertise also covers monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Previously, Maja worked in rural development projects in Tanzania and Madagascar. She has also done research in Kyrgyzstan and Bolivia on topics related to rural economy. She has worked in...2021-04-2837 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYWhy and How Should Development Practitioners Blog About Their Work?Development cooperation is being challenged. People question whether development works. There are people in the development community who have a rich experience that provides answers to the critical questions that society raises. But their knowledge is tacit. It is only available to themselves and perhaps a narrow circle of their colleagues. Knowledge must be accessible. It is our responsibility as development practitioners to tell the story of our work. For this episode, we have interviewed: - Duncan Green, who's senior strategic adviser for Oxfam GB, and Professor in Practice in International Development at...2021-04-1820 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYDoes the Monitoring and Results Measurement System Serve Development Projects?The monitoring and results measuring system is an integral part of any project, especially important for projects that use the market systems development approach, using adaptive, learning-by-doing approach to implementation. The system supports the project team during planning, designing, managing, reviewing and evaluation of project interventions in compliance with the market systems development approach and results measurement standards. For this episode, we have interviewed Monitoring & Results Measurement (MRM) specialists to find out whether the MRM system serves development projects. We have interesting topics coming up, so stay tuned!2021-04-1236 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYEnsuring Inclusiveness and Equality for Everyone, Everywhere'Leave No One Behind' is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Translating this bold global commitment into an action-oriented mindset and result is a tall order. Is it possible to achieve a better future for all? It’s hard to deliver this in practice, but it’s also easy to be sceptical about inclusive development. For this episode, we have interviewed Elina Scheja, Lead Economist at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; Jane Carter, Senior Adviser on Natural Resource Governance at Helvetas; and Holly Krueger, Managing Partner at T...2021-03-2428 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYWhy You Need to Become a Brand Ambassador for the Organization You Work For?Did you know that most people don’t see NGOs as credible sources of information? Organizations and academic experts, peers like yourself and even regular employees are all more credible than the organization itself. If you wonder where they built this trust, our bet is on social media. Digitalization has led to the decentralization of communications. Access to powerful channels is no longer limited to public relations departments and traditional media. For this episode, we have interviewed Nathalie Laidler-Kylander, a Managing Director at the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation; Stefan Stolle, a Director of Marketing and Communications at He...2021-03-1525 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYHow Can Outsourcing Drive Inclusive Economic Development?Simply put, outsourcing is hiring someone else to do the work or help you with part of a client assignment, instead of doing all of it yourself. Outsourcing has become one of the main drivers of economic development. Countries like India and the Philippines have benefited from outsourcing. But can other countries in the Western Balkans do better to drive a more inclusive economic development? So, in this episode, we have interviewed Timo Stegelmann, Deputy Managing Director at Help—Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, our partner at RECONOMY; Timothy Sparkman, Managing Partner at The Canopy Lab; Vesna Purić, who’s COO...2021-02-2833 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYDoes Inclusive Public-Private Dialogue Work?Despite their positive roles in inclusive economic development, business associations in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus have a limited capacity to advance economic systems that serve all citizens, including vulnerable groups such as women and young people with limited participation in the economy. The common challenge includes large, well-connected firms that have been able to establish themselves and communicate their interests to local governments through nurtured channels and ties. Besides, the small and medium enterprises are still underrepresented in policy dialogue and unable to advocate for their priorities and rights before the government. This is also worsened by...2021-02-1533 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYEnhancing Economic Opportunities Through Non-Formal Skills DevelopmentSkills development determines success in the labor market. It’s a strong predictor of stable and quality jobs among young people, women and other vulnerable and marginalized groups. Skills development goes beyond formal vocational education and training. A lot has been done in the formal education system of Armenia. Despite a steady supply of an educated workforce, employers complain that they can’t find people with the right skills. Hence the vacant positions remain open or filled with unqualified staff. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the main employers in Armenia. They constitute 98% of all registered and func...2021-02-0935 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYIs Post-COVID-19 Green and Sustainable Future Possible?How can we move from a negative COVID-19 disruption to a positive cleantech disruption? How do we guarantee the recovery packages are green and sustainable? Here is the fifth episode of the Inclusive Plug series. We have interviewed: Santiago Lorenzo, an ecological economist specialized in finance. Santiago is Head of Sustainable Finance part of the senior management team of the Climate Action Network International Secretariat. Anastasia Bekish, an Environment and Climate Change Manager at RECONOMY. She is a professional in the field of climate policy and civil society development from Belarus. ...2021-02-0228 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYMaking Sense of the Market Systems Analysis for RECONOMYThe regional programme RECONOMY seeks to contribute to inclusive economic development to women and youth, including other disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, in 12 countries in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and the Western Balkans. To achieve this objective, the design and management of the programme needs to be flexible and adaptable and be able to continuously learn from and react to the ever-changing and evolving nature of the problems which the programme addresses—in skills development, financial and business services, and advocacy systems. So, in this episode, we talk to inclusive economic development experts at Agora Global about what RE...2021-01-2829 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYIs inclusive digitalization possible in the post-COVID-19 age?Here is the fourth episode of the Inclusive Plug series. We have interviewed: Ivana Georgievska is the Vocational Education and Training Expert at the Education for Employment project in North Macedonia. She has more than 10 years of experience working on the Vocational Education and Training system. Triin Laasi is the Director of Tallinn School of Economics, one of the oldest vocational schools in Estonia. Previously, she has worked in the field of education, leading various education institutions. Agnieszka Kroskowska is the Gender and Social Equity Coordinator at Helvetas, supporting the organization to walk...2021-01-1435 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYCarbon-neutral Balkans—Cold Hell?Here is the third episode of the Inclusive Plug series. We asked 4 experts from the region on whether the Western Balkans can become carbon neutral by 2050. Azra Tanovic is a multi-disciplinary sustainability professional with a background in environmental and water resources engineering. Denis Zhishko is Energy and Climate Change Coordinator at Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Centre of Ecology and Energy. Ana Colovic Lesoska is a Macedonian environmentalist. In recognition of her efforts and activism, last year she was one of six environmentalists to be awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize. Zvezdan Kalmar, an expert on energy, transport and climate ch...2021-01-1125 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYUnpacking Migration and Development in 30 MinutesThe human desire to seek decent employment and livelihoods is at the core of the nexus between migration and development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, provides for a strong link between decent work and migration in Sustainable Development Goals on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development. Recognition of human mobility is a key factor for sustainable development. Here is the second episode of the Inclusive Plug series. We have interviewed: Kristijan Fidanovski is a Barnett Scholar at the University of Oxford. For his research, Kristijan...2021-01-1136 min

Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMYBusinesses and Development Organizations—Sparring Partners?Here is the first episode of the Inclusive Plug series. We have interviewed Visar Ramajli, a Kosovo entrepreneur and manufacturer, and Matthias Herr, the Regional Director for East and Southeast Europe at Helvetas. This episode is about the role of the private sector in development and the importance of partnerships between development organizations and system actors. Also, please let us know whether you agree or disagree with the ideas expressed by our two guests and send us your feedback or comments here. We have interesting topics coming up, so stay tuned!2021-01-1131 min

D-I-YFacilitec: E groussen Do-It-Yourself Projet fir Bierger a StartuppenËnner de Begrëff Do-It-Yourself falen haut och Initiativen an nei Produiten, déi iwwer de private Gebrauch ewech an eng Geschäftsiddi ëmgewandelt ginn. Ëmmer méi Jonker wielen dëse Wee, fir iwwer eng Startup-Entreprise hire Liewensënnerhalt ze bestreiden. Eng grouss Ënnerstëtzung fir esou Iddie gëtt et elo zu Esch. Facilitec heescht deen neie Projet, dee private Bierger a jonke Startuppen, besonnesch am Beräich vun der Kreeslaf-Wirtschaft, ënner d'Äerm gräift. De Claude Faber huet bei der Caroline Holz nogefrot, wat ee sech vu Facilitec (reconomy) erwaarde kann.2020-12-1507 min

Connection Matters PodcastThe future is Permaculture with Andy GoldringThings we talk about in this episodePermaculture as having moral and ethical grounding as well as ecologicalPermaculture being rooted in appreciation of indigenous wisdom as well as in innovation of science and technology.Permaculture as a living evolving dynamic process of working with nature to find ways of meeting our many different needs practically and otherwise.Permaculture works at both an individual and personal level as well as at a societal level.Andy shares about the many applications of permaculture across the spectrum of society.Examples include food production and community agriculture, transition towns, reconomy, energy projects...2020-06-071h 06

The Sustainability AgendaEpisode 72: Interview with Rob Hopkins, founder of Transition movementPeople feel defeated when they hear the grand cost of achieving carbon neutrality. But what if some of the solutions were to be found in revitalising the collective imagination, harnessing the dynamism of local communities and rethinking local economies to achieve a sustainable future? In this episode we speak with Rob Hopkins, the founder of the Transition movement, which seeks to do exactly that.The Transition movement is all about dreaming the future we want to create and rebuilding the world at the level of individual communities. When you look at a local community through a Transition...2019-07-1652 min

Age of AdoptionAccelerating the Clean Economy with VERGE's Shana RappaportComplex problems demand complex solutions. While we would all love to have the silver bullet to solve a marital crisis, business challenges, Middle East peace or climate change, the reality is that the solutions to these types of problems are usually multifarious but related and attack the problem from different directions. On today’s episode of Raising Your Antenna, we are going to address the threat of climate change but from a non-binary, non-zero sum game and a non-linear perspective. Guiding us on this journey is Shanna Rappaport, Vice President and Executive Director of Verge at Green Bi...2019-07-1041 min

Rob HopkinsThe Totnes Local Entrepreneur Forum 2017The 2017 Local Entrepreneur Forum was the sixth, and the best yet. Pitching this year were The Apricot Centre, Woodland Presents CIC, Black Bee Coombe, Yew Media and The Potting Shed, Studio 45. About 150 people packed into the Ballroom, and the event was hosted by Jay Tompt and Hal Gilmore from REconomy, and local singer/performer, Katie Tokus. This podcast gives a flavour of the buzz at the event.2017-05-1511 min

Rob HopkinsAnna Lodge on the new REconomy guidesAnna Lodge of the REconomy Project introduces two new REconomy guides, the Transition Enterprise Handbook and Transition Core Resourcing. How did they come about? What's in them?2015-05-2806 min

Rob HopkinsTransition Conversations 1: Getting Ready To Fund RaiseIn the first in the 'Transition Conversations' series presented by Gaia University and Transition Network, in partnership with the REconomy Project, , Tina Clarke and Nicola Hillary discuss funding and financing for your projects, and what needs to be in place before you can move towards funding. For more information on the rest of the series, see http://www.transitionnetwork.org/gaia-radio-partnership-transition-network-presents-transition-conversations-series-free-webinars 2014-02-191h 31

Rob HopkinsFiona Ward on The New Economy in 20 Enterprises #5"What would it look like if government got behind and supported this approach?" http://www.reconomy.org/the-new-economy-in-20-enterprises/2013-09-0301 min

Rob HopkinsFiona Ward on The New Economy in 20 Enterprises #2"What can we learn from this report?" http://www.reconomy.org/the-new-economy-in-20-enterprises/2013-09-0301 min

Rob HopkinsFiona Ward on The New Economy in 20 Enterprises #1"How did this report come about?" http://www.reconomy.org/the-new-economy-in-20-enterprises/2013-09-0301 min

Clearing the FOG with co-hosts Margaret Flowers and Kevin ZeeseClearing the FOG on Solving the Housing Crisis with Michael Carlson and Nancie KoerberThe artificial inflation of the housing market, predatory lending practices and fraudulent behavior by Big Finance which created the collapse of the housing market and epidemic of evictions, calls into question whether housing is a commodity that should be subject to the whims of the market or a human right that is not commodified. We explore ways that people are creating permanently affordable housing in their communities and taking on the Big Banks to hold them accountable, prevent foreclosure and strengthen their local economies. Our guests are Michael Carlson, former director of the Madison Area Community Land Trust and...2013-08-0354 min

Rob HopkinsNick Sherwood on the Herefordshire Economic EvaluationNick Sherwood discusses the Herefordshire Economic Evaluation, Opportunities to grow our local economy, which can be downloaded from http://www.reconomy.org/herefordshire-economic-evaluation-reports-now-available/.2013-06-0727 min

Rob HopkinsTony Greenham on Transition and the new economicsREconomy's Fiona Ward (www.reconomy.org) speaks to Tony Greenham of New Economics Foundation (www.neweconomics.org).2013-01-0910 min

Rob HopkinsFiona Ward on her REconomy RoadtripFiona Ward of the REconomy Project reflects on her recent REconomy Roadtrip.2012-09-0407 min

Rob HopkinsTransition Network Conference 2012 - Shane HughesShane Hughes of the REconomy Project speaks about the REConomy day at the 2012 Transition Network conference and also about the workshop he and Fiona Ward will be running at the main conference.2012-08-2005 min