All Eyes on Economics Podcasts

Episode 22: All Eyes on Economics: Labor Market Trends and Workers Compensation with Donna Glenn and Stephen Cooper (NCCI)

(November 11, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Host Michel Léonard, Donna Glenn, Chief Actuary at NCCI, and Stephen Cooper, Executive Director and Senior Economist at NCCI, engage in an in-depth discussion on the workers compensation market. They discuss key factors in ratemaking, including economic indicators and the importance of understanding wage growth, inflation, and their regional impacts. Donna highlights the diverse state and industry variables that shape rate adequacy, emphasizing how payroll growth—driven by headcount and wage increases—supports the workers compensation system amid declining loss costs. Stephen explains NCCI’s Workers Compensation Weighted Medical Price Index, which offers a more precise view of medical inflation unique to the workers compensation industry, contrasting it with broader economic inflation trends. Together, they underscore how a blend of economic insights and actuarial expertise leads to more informed ratemaking decisions that account for local labor market nuances and evolving conditions across the industry. Tune in today for an episode packed with thought leadership and actionable insights. Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 21: All Eyes on Research: What Was The Worst Decision Made in the History of Cyber? With Scott Shackelford (Indiana University)

(November 4, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Research, Dr. Michel Léonard talks to Dr. Scott Shackelford, Provost Professor of Business Law and Ethics at the Indiana University. Scott also serves as the Executive Director of the Ostrom Workshop and the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research. The two discuss how Scott’s background in political science, law, and cybersecurity bolsters his research in software resilience, security governance, the internet of things and space cybersecurity, to mention a few. Michel poses questions such as: with our current geopolitical landscape and in the context of these key cyber trends, which poses the largest risk? And What was the worst decision made in the history of cyber? The conversation turns to the impact of these trends on the insurance industry, the environment and supply chain security. Tune in for this knowledge and research packed episode. Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 20: All Eyes on Economics: What is Insurance Research Council? And What Drives Insurance Costs? With Mike Robon (IRC Board Chair)

(October 30, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Léonard interviews Insurance Research Council (IRC) Chairman and Vice President General Manager of Liberty Mutual’s Product Management Organization, Mike Robon. Michel and Mike tackle key questions to the industry like “How do we make insurance affordable?” “Why should we care about tort reform?” and “What is the role of economists and data driven decisions in insurance today?” Listen in to hear Mike’s perspective as Board Chair of the IRC and as an insurance leader and how that perspective contributes to the work he does every day. Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 19: All Eyes on Research: Hail and the Climate Crisis with Victor Gensini (NIU)

(October 9, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Research, Triple-I Economic Research Analyst Marina Madsen interviews meteorology professor in the Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment at Northern Illinois University and leading expert in convective storm research, Dr. Victor Gensini. Marina and Victor discuss the encroaching threat of convective storms to businesses and individuals alike. They delve into insurance implications of climate change and the evolving threat of hail, highlighting how patterns such as urbanization only amplify risk and future losses. Finally, Victor focuses on the importance of research, and shares with the audience the exciting projects he is currently working on. Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 18: All Eyes on Research: Insurance affordability and mutualization with Seth Rachlin (ASU)

(September 23, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Leonard speaks to 30-year insurance industry veteran Seth Rachlin, who is now a Professor of Political Science and Social Data Science at Arizona State University. Seth and Michel delve into some of the biggest questions in insurance, discussing trends in insurance affordability and availability, the benefits of mutualization, the inevitability of moral hazard, and the increasing spreads between rates. They have an incredibly thoughtful exchange about how these themes affect the industry: as a whole and right down to individual policy owners. Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 17: All Eyes on Economics: Economic Impacts on Small Businesses with Russ Johnston (Nationwide)

(September 9, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Léonard interviews Russ Johnston, Nationwide’s President of Commercial lines, Excess and Surplus and Specialty. They discuss the findings of Nationwide’s 2024 Economic Impact Survey, focusing on how small and medium-sized businesses feel about and are adapting to the current economic environment. Russ provides insights into the importance of property, general liability, and workers' compensation insurance for these businesses while addressing some of their top concerns such as energy costs, supply chain disruptions, inflation, raw material expenses, and high interest rates. Michel and Russ discuss strategies for protecting businesses from legal challenges and cyber threats and explore insurance solutions for these leading concerns. More on the 2024 Nationwide Economic Impact Survey here: Nationwide survey on newsroom and Agency Forward article.

Survey Key findings: Nationwide’s recent survey with small- and mid-market business owners found that there’s high concern around the national economy, however, business owners are more optimistic the closer you get to their specific region, industry, or business. 73% of mid-market owners and 51% of small business owners rate the conditions for their own business as good or excellent today. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 16: All Eyes on Economics: Educating the Next Generation of Insurance Professionals with Rob Hoyt (UGA)

(July 29, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Léonard interviews Dr. Robert Hoyt, Moore Chair and Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Georgia. Michel and Rob delve into insurance education. Michel’s thoughtful questions and Rob’s insights and academic perspective combine in this episode for an informed and engaging conversation about economics in insurance education. At UGA, the Risk Management and Insurance program weaves fundamental economic principles and theories into each student’s education. As Rob emphasizes, it is critical to integrate insurance and economics. Michel and Rob also discuss the PhD program, the emphasis on internships, the integral capstone course, and the alumni network. All of which contribute to UGA students’ success in the industry. Make sure to listen until the end for more information about an upcoming job fair and climate risk initiative. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 15: All Eyes on Economics: Insuring Each Other with Bob Valliere (CSAA)

(July 15, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Michel Léonard speaks to Bob Valliere, Chief Operations Officer at CSAA Insurance Group. Bob and Michel discuss the importance of economic analysis in making insurance decisions; highlighting how CSAA considers inflation, changes in supply, and other economic indicators when pricing. Bob describes CSAA’s relationship with AAA and their community-driven, not-for-profit model. Michel questions Bob about how CSAA has been able to successfully anticipate the costs of insurance while maintaining economic stability, and Bob stresses the importance of leveraging the best and most up-to-date data to make informed decisions. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 14: All Eyes on Economics: The evolution of economics, with Tom Beers (NABE)

(July 2, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Michel Léonard speaks to Tom Beers, Executive Director of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE). They navigate through a conversation about NABE’s mission and contributions while also analyzing the evolution of the economics profession. Tom highlights the important role of economics in many sectors such as technology and consulting, and Michel, as both Economist and Data scientist serves as a direct example as to how integrated economics and data science are. Tune in to learn more about the opportunities NABE provides for economists today. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 13: All Eyes on Economics: The Future of Commercial Real Estate with Shawn Moura

(June 24, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Leonard speaks to Shawn Moura, Senior research director at NAIOP, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association. Shawn and Michel have a thoughtful researched conversation about the commercial real estate market; specifically looking at trends surrounding office space demand. NAIOP recently released their second quarter office space demand forecast which is publicly available and can be viewed at the link below. They also discuss the future of the retail market and how American worker’s priorities are impacting the future success of offices, retail, and construction. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 12: All Eyes on Economics: Elevating Insurance Education through Economics and AI with Pete Miller (The Institutes)

(June 17, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Leonard speaks to Pete Miller, President and CEO of The Institutes. Pete and Michel discuss the relationship between economics and insurance and the role AI plays in the evolving insurance landscape. Pete shares his expert perspective as a leader in the industry to answer questions about how important topics like replacement costs and inflations are to industry executives and boards. Pete also highlights some of The Institute’s great resources such as education courses, newsletters, and events. Turning toward innovation, Michel and Pete dive into a discussion about generative AI and the various opportunities it presents for the growth and transformation of the industry. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 11: All Eyes on Economics: Connecting to Regulators Through Research, Databases, and Economic Tools, with Jeff Czajkowski (CIPR, NAIC)

(June 10, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Michel Leonard, CBE, speaks to Jeff Czajkowski, Director of the Center for Insurance Policy and Research at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Michel and Jeff engage in a detailed discussion about the translation of technical economic research into broadly consumable content. Both holding PhDs in Economics, Michel and Jeff connect over their shared background and the current challenges researchers face in relating content including macro-economic trends, investments, and solvency requirements, to regulators and other industry stakeholders. Specifically, Michel asks Jeff about several initiatives such as Community 360, macro credential risk assessment, and the CIPR NAIC dashboards, which are essential in explaining and understanding climate risk and modeling. They discuss how each of these economic tools contributes to both building consensus among researchers and appealing to the regulatory perspective. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 10: All Eyes on Economics: Real Estate and Insurance with Sandra Rampersaud (Vespiary, Aequitas)

(May 28, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Leonard speaks to Sandra Rampersaud, President and CEO of Vespiary Realty and Aequitas Risk Solutions. Sandra brings a unique perspective to the conversation as both a relator and insurance broker. She highlights how key it is to take insurance into consideration when purchasing a home, especially as a first-time homeowner. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 9: All Eyes on Economics: Inflation and Growth with Paul Carroll (ITL)

(May 20, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Leonard joined Insurance Thought Leadership Editor in Chief, Paul Carroll, for one of ITL’s quarterly chats. Paul and Michel discuss the US economy at large, and the FED’s economic outlook. They then delve into the factors that contribute to the FED’s and Triple-I’s economic projections on Inflation and economic growth. Also in this episode, you will get an up-close look at economic conditions for commercial property growth and commentary on how we look at today’s growth in the context of the past few years. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 8: All Eyes on Economics: Bridging Economics and Underwriting with Dale Porfilio (Triple-I)

(May 13, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr Michel Leonard, CBE, speaks with Dale Porfilio, Chief Insurance Officer at the Insurance Information Institute, and President of the Insurance Research Council (IRC). Michel and Dale discuss the intersection of economic trends and underwriting - and their own collaboration at the Triple-I to bridge actuarial and economic analysis and deliver insight to the Triple-I’s members through models, indices, and forecasts. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 7: All Eyes on Economics: The Trade and Business Economist with Ken Simonson (AGC)

(May 6, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr. Michel Leonard, CBE, speaks with Ken Simonson Chief Economist of the Associated General Contractors of America and past president of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE). Michel and Ken discuss the role of economists in trade associations and their contribution to shaping economic policy. Expanding on this, Michel asks Ken about the changing role of business economists in finance and corporate settings and what economists can do to continuously adapt to deliver actionable insight to non-economist colleagues. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 6: All Eyes on Economics: The International Insurance Society with Josh Landau (IIS)

(April 29, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr Michel Leonard, CBE, speaks to Josh Landau, President of the International Insurance Society, affiliated with The Institutes and Corporate Banking Group head of the Financial Institution Group at Fifth Third Bank. Michel and Josh discuss the IIS’s mission to foster greater collaboration amongst insurance thought leaders from around the world - and the role economists and economic research play in shaping timely narratives. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 5: All Eyes on Economics: Economics and Life Insurance with Aaron Smith (FT)

(April 22, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr Michel Leonard, CBE, speaks to Reporter Aaron Smith, Life and Annuity. Michel and Aaron discuss the changing needs of Aaron’s audience in how to understand the impact of economic trends on life policy value, returns and pricing, as well as the impact of wider economic trends on the financial health of the life insurance industry. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 4: All Eyes on Economics: Insurance and Geopolitics with John Minor (AON)

(April 15, 2024)

This week on All Eyes on Economics, our host, Dr Michel Leonard, CBE, and John Minor, Structured Credit and Political Risk Practice Leader at Aon, discuss the role of political risk insurance in mitigating economic and geopolitical risks around the world. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 3: All Eyes on Economics: Economics, Data, and Better Policy with Robert Gordon (APCIA)

(April 8, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr Michel Leonard, CBE, speaks to Robert Gordon, Senior Vice President, Policy, Research, and International at APCIA. Michel and Robert discuss the role of economists in policy-making, especially in contributing to shaping policy for trade associations such as APCIA - and how economic research can be used to challenge established narratives to foster better policy. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 2: All Eyes on Economics: Economics and Triple-I's Mission with Sean Kevelighan

(April 1, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr Michel Leonard, CBE, speaks to Sean Kevelighan, Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Information Institute. Michel and Sean discuss how economic drivers are key to the success of the insurance industry and its contribution to building more sustainable communities. They bring up Triple-I tools that translate economic trends into actionable insight for insurance practitioners and their contribution to the Triple-I mission of providing data-driven insight to industry stakeholders. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple

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Episode 1: All Eyes on Economics: Bridging Economics and Underwriting with Jennifer Kyung

(March 28, 2024)

In this episode of All Eyes on Economics, Dr Michel Leonard, CBE, speaks with Jennifer Kyung, Property and Casualty Chief Underwriting Officer at USAA; Chair of ELC. Michel and Jen discuss the intersection of economic trends and underwriting - and the need to integrate economic analysis in growth and replacement costs assumptions has become even more critical to successful underwriting in today’s great economic uncertainty. Listen to Podcast: Spotify, Audible, Apple