Yanis Varoufakis to speak at Kilkenomics festival

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis is to speak at the Kilkenomics economics festival.

Mr Varoufakis will give an insider account of how he came to be at the helm of Greece’s economy, what happened in those six tempestuous months, what the ECB did to Greece, how the Germans actually behaved and what’s in store for the next small EU country that gets into trouble.

His talk will be hosted by economist David McWilliams in Kilkenny’s St Canice’s Cathedral.

Other speakers at the festival include Black Swan author Nassim Taleb and Ogilvy UK advertising creative director Rory Sutherland.

The festival which has been called “Davos with jokes” will see stand-up comedians put the economists under the spotlight to talk through crucial issues such as the prospects for the Irish economy in 2015 and what happens if the UK leaves the EU.

“We’re also talking Arab springs, Russian winters, new Asia, Scandinavian cool, Ireland’s new housing bubble, international sporting tournaments, Game of Thrones and even Kilkenny’s own controversial Central Access Scheme,” event organisers said.