Signals, Pippa Malmgren
Signals, Pippa Malmgren
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Signals
How Everyday Signs Can Help Us Navigate the World's Turbulent Economy

Author: Pippa Malmgren

Narrator: Pippa Malmgren

Unabridged: 12 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/11/2016


Synopsis

SIGNALS is the story of the world economy, told in the language of everyday objects, places and events - from magazine covers and supermarkets to public protests.

'A tour de force' Lord Rose, former CEO and Chairman of Marks & Spencer
'Dr Pippa Malmgren's book is essential reading' Dr Liam Fox, former British Defence Minister
'Better than Piketty' James Galbraith, Chair of Government and Business at the University of Texas

Pippa Malmgren argues that by being alert to the many signals around us, we can be empowered to deal with the varied troubles and treasures the world economy inevitably brings. Economics is not just maths and data. Perfume and makeup are part of the world economy too. Signals will help you understand why the size of chocolate bars, steaks and apartments are shrinking. It explains why the government says we face deflation yet everyone feels their cost of living is rising and their standard of living is falling. Rising protein prices are felt not just during your weekly shop but by the leaders of emerging markets who are obliged to reach for food and energy assets to feed their people. The increasing near misses between America's spy planes and the fighter jets of China and Russia are no coincidence.

Malmgren reveals how our daily lives are affected by the ongoing battle, created by central bankers, between inflation and deflation. The fallout of this battle is evident in the rise of anti-establishment voting, the return of social unrest to emerging markets, the movement of manufacturing jobs back to the West, and by pressure from mass immigration. Economic forces are breaking the social contract between citizens and their states. If the only real solution is innovation, then the key question becomes whether governments are hostile or hospitable to efforts to build tomorrow's economy today. Malmgren shows us who is already building the future and how to be part of it.

With its wonderful range of examples, from a Vogue magazine cover to a protest by a Tibetan monk, Signals demonstrates that although we can't predict the future of the world economy, we can better prepare ourselves for it. Far from being the concern of only a privileged few, Malmgren shows that economics is a hot topic that touches every life.

Written and read by Dr Pippa Malmgrem

(p) 2016 Orion Publishing Group

About Pippa Malmgren

Dr Pippa Malmgren is a former presidential advisor and has served as the chief currency strategist for Bankers Trust and the deputy head of global strategy at UBS. She co-founded H Robotics, a firm which manufactures aerial robots, and DRPM, a consulting business. She serves on boards at the UK Department for International Trade, Indiana University and the Ditchley Foundation. In November 2016 she was named a non-executive director of the Department of International Trade. Malmgren is a frequent guest on the BBC, including NEWSNIGHT and the TODAY programme, and is a popular commentator and public speaker with the FINANCIAL TIMES, the ECONOMIST, Intelligence Squared and others. She lives in London. Find her on Twitter @DrPippaM


Reviews

Goodreads review by Pippa on July 02, 2016

This is the final version of my book Signals. The original version was crowdfunded because the publishers said "nobody cares about economics". It raised 260% of the target in 15days and then went to number 1 on Amazon 4x. Now it's updated and formally published by Weidenfeld and Nicholson.It explain......more

Goodreads review by Karl on January 18, 2017

I'm a fan of Pippa Malmgrens work - I'll get that out in front, this isn't a criticism of her broader work, just this book. If you're looking for something that discusses signalling theory in depth and relates it to the real world, this isn't for you. What you'll get in this book is a series of storie......more

Goodreads review by Helen on August 24, 2018

This book drew me in with the promise of understanding easy to see signals, but it actually turned out to be a crash course on economics with a load of politics thrown in too. But that's ok because the signals that Pippa Malgren talks about are the sort that you can only see and interpret if you kno......more

Goodreads review by Sambasivan on August 11, 2023

Liked the mission of the author. This book is meant for people who do not like economics. The story is written in a very simple language. The logic is impeccable. The structuring of the narrative is a delight. Every page brims with examples. The author manages to hold the attention with a racy narra......more

Goodreads review by SP on January 04, 2017

This book was excellent because it really made me think hard about how seemingly insignificant everyday things can be huge signs of things to come in the economy. I've personally been able to spot trends early within the industry that I work in, however, this book really introduce ways to pay a lot......more


Quotes

Rather wonderful FINANCIAL TIMES

Very interesting. It will make you feel smart. EVENING STANDARD

Dr Pippa Malmgren's book is essential reading

A tour de force

Pippa's work is impressive and groundbreaking

A fascinating read. Full of lateral insights

Fascinating, stimulating book! First-class quality

In Signals: How Everyday Signs Can Help Us Navigate the World's Turbulent Economy, Dr Philippa Malmgren draws attention to the everyday signals - from magazine covers to shop fronts - that reveal the state of the world's economy and help us to understand recent tectonic shifts in global politics ... its anecdotal, accessible and democratising approach is welcomed LSE blogs