Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this podcast, I spoke with Thomas Murphy, my son and the videographer and editor behind this channel, about something that matters to his generation: where can young people actually go to meet each other?
Pubs and restaurants are available, but they cost money and often assume that drinking or consuming something is part of socialising. Coffee shops close early. Youth clubs have disappeared. Schools and other community buildings have become expensive to hire. Hobby shops and other informal meeting places are struggling or have vanished altogether.
The result is the loss of what sociologist Ray Oldenburg called the “third place”: somewhere that is neither home nor work, where people can meet, talk, pursue interests and simply spend time alongside other people.
That matters when loneliness is becoming an increasing concern, particularly among younger people. Telling someone to “get a hobby” is not much use if there is nowhere affordable for that hobby to happen.
Tom and I discuss how online gaming has not filled this gap, why physical meeting places still matter, and whether vacant high-street shops could become community spaces with support from local and national government.
This is ultimately about more than young people. We need places where generations can mix, friendships can form, and communities can develop without everyone being required to spend money simply to be there.
Take a look at today's poll: youtube.com/post/Ugkxw5-bR8wvAQ8rhkIowwVuswCnSx5fJW1n
TRANSCRIPT
A transcript for this video is available at: taxresearch.org.uk
IF YOU WANT TO WRITE TO YOUR MP ABOUT ISSUES IN THIS VIDEO
If you want to write a letter to your MP on the issues raised in this blog post, there is a ChatGPT prompt to assist you in doing so, with full instructions, here. taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/06/20/chatgpt-prompt-for-a-letter-to-your-mp
HOW TO SUPPORT US
Please consider donating: ko-fi.com/taxresearch
ABOUT RICHARD MURPHY
Richard Murphy is Emeritus Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School. He is director of Tax Research LLP and the author of the Funding the Future blog. His best-known book is ‘The Joy of Tax’.
This video was edited by Thomas Murphy.
RICHARD MURPHY ON BLUESKY:
https://bsky.app/profile/richardjmurphy.bsky.social
OR
ON MY BLOG: taxresearch.org.uk/Blog
HIT SUBSCRIBE & GET NOTIFICATIONS
Subscribe and get notified of new videos released.
INTRODUCTION: youtube.com/watch?v=HdHsRPy3060
PLAYLISTS:
The Wealth Series
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobQLeyZYAagFDMjEFTKbhRD
Ecenomics
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob54Gs-fOL-8OAQ-IpduwB4
Britain
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobwTT4ATvJjsf8OO6S7wD10
Tax
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoaMni_12J6ULp3yUJisUZoY
MMT
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoZ6jvRGSW5YXu8qogE6aClX
Money
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYnLk1c7syTvoIo8bKYUs5m
Climate Change
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob4_wsYaVivWd2WumpPLYwJ
USA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYYd3dSyU2Oyl3x7bWJOP7H
Labour
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoa-KhzG-fnjDSg1WROL1zMw
The Trump Administration
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobz41-GLimTho27A3flVWQx
#richardmurphy #richardjmurphy #economy #economics #accountancy #accounting #tax #uktax #ukeconomy #greennewdeal #uk #money #economy #politics #government #tax #labour #health #life
In this podcast, I spoke with Thomas Murphy, my son and the videographer and editor behind this channel, about something that matters to his generation: where can young people actually go to meet each other?
Pubs and restaurants are available, but they cost money and often assume that drinking or consuming something is part of socialising. Coffee shops close early. Youth clubs have disappeared. Schools and other community buildings have become expensive to hire. Hobby shops and other informal meeting places are struggling or have vanished altogether.
The result is the loss of what sociologist Ray Oldenburg called the “third place”: somewhere that is neither home nor work, where people can meet, talk, pursue interests and simply spend time alongside other people.
That matters when loneliness is becoming an increasing concern, particularly among younger people. Telling someone to “get a hobby” is not much use if there is nowhere affordable for that hobby to happen.
Tom and I discuss how online gaming has not filled this gap, why physical meeting places still matter, and whether vacant high-street shops could become community spaces with support from local and national government.
This is ultimately about more than young people. We need places where generations can mix, friendships can form, and communities can develop without everyone being required to spend money simply to be there.
Take a look at today's poll: youtube.com/post/Ugkxw5-bR8wvAQ8rhkIowwVuswCnSx5fJW1n
TRANSCRIPT
A transcript for this video is available at: taxresearch.org.uk
IF YOU WANT TO WRITE TO YOUR MP ABOUT ISSUES IN THIS VIDEO
If you want to write a letter to your MP on the issues raised in this blog post, there is a ChatGPT prompt to assist you in doing so, with full instructions, here. taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/06/20/chatgpt-prompt-for-a-letter-to-your-mp
HOW TO SUPPORT US
Please consider donating: ko-fi.com/taxresearch
ABOUT RICHARD MURPHY
Richard Murphy is Emeritus Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School. He is director of Tax Research LLP and the author of the Funding the Future blog. His best-known book is ‘The Joy of Tax’.
This video was edited by Thomas Murphy.
RICHARD MURPHY ON BLUESKY:
https://bsky.app/profile/richardjmurphy.bsky.social
OR
ON MY BLOG: taxresearch.org.uk/Blog
HIT SUBSCRIBE & GET NOTIFICATIONS
Subscribe and get notified of new videos released.
INTRODUCTION: youtube.com/watch?v=HdHsRPy3060
PLAYLISTS:
The Wealth Series
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobQLeyZYAagFDMjEFTKbhRD
Ecenomics
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob54Gs-fOL-8OAQ-IpduwB4
Britain
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobwTT4ATvJjsf8OO6S7wD10
Tax
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoaMni_12J6ULp3yUJisUZoY
MMT
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoZ6jvRGSW5YXu8qogE6aClX
Money
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYnLk1c7syTvoIo8bKYUs5m
Climate Change
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgob4_wsYaVivWd2WumpPLYwJ
USA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoYYd3dSyU2Oyl3x7bWJOP7H
Labour
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgoa-KhzG-fnjDSg1WROL1zMw
The Trump Administration
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRueM6wBgobz41-GLimTho27A3flVWQx
#richardmurphy #richardjmurphy #economy #economics #accountancy #accounting #tax #uktax #ukeconomy #greennewdeal #uk #money #economy #politics #government #tax #labour #health #life
