Town Square

A look into how the world’s economy and supply chain impact American wallets

Economic experts look into how an infrastructure bill, unemployment, and gaps in the supply chain and what it all mean to our pocket books.

In this Sept. 15, 2021, file photo, construction cranes stand near the Evergrande's name and logo at its new housing development in Beijing. A mid-size Chinese real estate developer Fantasia Holdings Group failed to make a $205.7 million payment due to bondholders Tuesday, Oct. 5, adding to the industry's financial strain as one of China's biggest developers tries to avoid defaulting on billions of dollars of debt. Investors are worried Evergrande Group might collapse with 2 trillion yuan ($310 billion) of debt. The company has missed at least one payment to bondholders abroad but has yet to be declared in default.
In this Sept. 15, 2021, file photo, construction cranes stand near the Evergrande’s name and logo at its new housing development in Beijing. A mid-size Chinese real estate developer Fantasia Holdings Group failed to make a $205.7 million payment due to bondholders Tuesday, Oct. 5, adding to the industry’s financial strain as one of China’s biggest developers tries to avoid defaulting on billions of dollars of debt. Investors are worried Evergrande Group might collapse with 2 trillion yuan ($310 billion) of debt. The company has missed at least one payment to bondholders abroad but has yet to be declared in default.

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Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

A recent report of Evergrande’s financial woes has investors and economics concerned. The property developer in China has made headlines for its massive $368 BILLION debt and its collapse could have an enormous impact on the global economy.

Car companies are sitting with lots full of nearly finished vehicles which they are unable to ship to showroom floors due to a computer chip manufacturing crisis.

What is going on with the economy?

COVID vaccines – and now boosters – have been available.

Businesses have opened up, safety protocols are in place, restrictions have been lifted.

Shouldn't things be getting better?

Why is the supply chain still being impacted?

Today, experts are here to unpack these latest stories and issues with the world economy in this ever-evolving late-pandemic world.

Guests:

David A. Gantz

  • Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy

Dietrich von Biedenfeld

  • Assistant Professor in the Marilyn Davies College of Business, at the University of Houston – Downtown

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

Audio from today’s show will be available after 5 p.m. CT. We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.