Coffer stop: AI may shrink tax base

About this episode

<p>If Artificial Intelligence results in job losses or lower salaries, <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/09/29/how-the-ai-boom-could-worsen-the-rich-worlds-fiscal-crunch?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">government revenues</a></u> will fall. Our correspondent explains how best to tax the windfalls from AI. <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/09/08/how-to-cool-buildings-on-the-cheap?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paint</a></u> is a surprisingly cheap way to cool buildings. And remembering the life of <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/10/01/stanislas-hutin-knew-he-must-not-stay-silent?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stanislas Hutin</a></u>, who revealed France’s barbarity in Algeria.</p><p>Watch extended clips from Insider <u><a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/insider/previews?utm_campaign=a.brand_fy2627_q1_awareness-imp-tr_prospecting_global-global_direct_na&utm_medium=audio.podcast.pd&utm_source=economist&utm_content=discovery.awareness.anonymous.tr_nativeread_np-tiinsider-apr_na-na_web_na_na_na_na&utm_term=sa.arc-isi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a></u></p><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Callum Williams, senior economics writer</li><li>Nikita Ostrovsky, science writer</li><li>Ann Wroe, obituaries editor</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>AI, tax, wealth tax, consumption tax</li><li>Climate change, paint, adaptation</li><li>Stanislas Hutin, Algeria, France, war crimes</li></ul><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<u><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Economist</a></u>.</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>