Full coverage: David McWilliams

Since he first burst into popular consciousness in 2001 with his best-selling book Fooled by Randomness, Nassim Taleb has been a bane of conventional thinking. Peter Frankopan has upended our understanding of history. David McWilliams is to be thanked for bringing them together to the Kilkenomics stage.

In his new book, David McWilliams attempts to tell the history of the world through the medium of money. The economist explains why money sits at the core of human evolution.

David McWilliams believes that the crisis has presented a major opportunity to make society - and the role of the economy within it - a better place. The economist says the new government should borrow heavily, and invest in crucial public services and infrastructure.