Elfonomics - with Elf Lyons and Dr Gerard Lyons

Why are the trains so sh*t?

Elf and her dad take on one of Britain’s favourite grumbles:the railways. Are they really as bad as we think? In this episode, they dive into how the system was privatise

Live at Latitude!: The Creative Economy

Recorded live on-stage at The Listening Post, Latitude’s spoken word venue, comedian Elf Lyons and her economist Dad, Dr Gerard Lyons are buzzing on festival energy as th

Do newspapers still matter?

Comedian Elf Lyons and the economist Dr Gerard Lyons explore the economics of newspapers and how the industry has been forced to transform in recent decades to try to sec

Student debt (and is it worth it?)

Are student loans really a tax? Are they fair? And are they putting people off going to university? Elf Lyons and economist Dr Gerard Lyons accrue your interest about the

Fast Fashion: Cheap Thrills or Economic Illusion?

Why is your £5 crop top such a big deal? In this episode of Elfonomics, Elf Lyons and economist Dr Gerard Lyons unravel the tangled threads of fast fashion, from Zara’s

Babies (and how to afford them)

Fertility is falling, IVF is rising, and bringing up a child in the UK now costs more than buying a house! In this heartfelt and data-packed episode, comedian Elf Lyons a

Mini-ep on future eps!

Elf and Dr Gerard Lyons tease future episodes.

Why are theatre tickets so expensive?

Elf and her dad dive into the economics behind theatre ticket prices. From production costs to audience demand, we explore why a night at the theatre can feel like a luxu

What is money?

What IS money? How much of it really exists? And when can it be a cow? Is a cashless future inevitable? And in a cashless society, will you still be delayed at airport

Should I be ashamed that I have no savings?

Peeling the banana that is savings, Elf and Gerard Lyons explore bank balance embarrassment via the economics of the comedy industry, personal investment strategy and a f

Is ChatGPT our friend?

Hello! This podcast blurb was written by HUMAN INTELLIGENCE... Or was it? In this episode we dip our toe in the water of one of the most uncanny valley economic issues; A

Why is Nanny Squeak obsessed with Premium Bonds?

Elf and Gerard Lyons discuss Premium Bonds. What are they? Are they a smart savings choice? How do they help the UK government raise revenue? Did the advent of the Nati

The Indo-Pacific: Heartbeat of The Future Global Economy

Dr Gerard Lyons and Elf Lyons move the map and discover why the Indo-Pacific is ‘the heartbeat of the future global economy’. They discuss the growth of countries includ

Why Is Coffee So Expensive?

Elfonomics: back for 2025, carefully brewed for your ears. Dr Gerard Lyons and Elf Lyons have a heavily caffeinated chat about why coffee is so costly. Whether you get

What can artists learn from football?

Elf discovers what lessons artists can take from football as Gerard analyses the economics of the Premier League and whether the model is sustainable. There's also inspir

Should I start an OnlyFans account?

In this episode, Elf and Gerard discuss the rise of OnlyFans and the economics behind it: the reinvention of the middle man, an online market place and 'economic rent'. O

Why Are Vets So Expensive?

Why is it cheaper to fly to a different country than pay for a veterinary bill? In this episode of Elfonomics, Elf and Gerard dissect the economics of vets and animal hea

Why Is Everything Made In China?

Why does it feel that everything is made in China and will that always be the case? Guilt-ridden by her online shopping addiction, Elf asks her dad if being 'mass produce

Why Are Weddings So Expensive?

Welcome back to Elfonomics! In this episode, Elf prepares to get hitched and asks her dad 'Why are weddings so expensive?'. Whilst Gerard tries to remember the name of hi

What The H£ll is a Smart City?

Elf asks her economist dad 'What is a smart city? And if there are smart cities, does that mean there are silly cities?' Gerard talks about the technology that's changing