Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio.

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

In Europe, the early stages of the pandemic led to lower drug consumption and trafficking,

but both quickly got back to normal.

We look into how both drugs and drug syndicates on the continent are getting more potent.

And one thing that didn't seem to change with the pandemic was productivity.

Workers got as much done as before.

It's now crystal clear though that they worked more hours to get there.

For that drop in efficiency, blame too many meetings.

Just up though.

Today Jerome Powell, the chairman of America's Central Bank, will be testifying before Congress.

One of many officials from the Fed who will be taking the mic this week.

They all have to be careful what they say.

Last week, Mr. Powell merely hinted that interest rates might be raised a little earlier

than previous mere hints had suggested.

You can think of this meeting that we had as the talking about, talking about meeting.

If you like.

That talking, scent markets tumbling.

The Dow fell more than 500 points Friday.

People are going to panic if they see that the Fed's raising rates.

I think there are a lot of grizzled financial veterans who keep leave their eyes right now.

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