Stuart Trow’s life has been defined by economic failure. He is consumed by how humanity has become characterised by intergenerational strife, economic disaster and financial fragility.

As an econometrics student at the London School of Economics in the 1980s, he was struck by how poorly economics described real life. Why do people consistently live and vote in ways so clearly at odds with both economic theory and their own best interests?

His 100,000-selling "Bluff your way in Economics" was a bold and humorous take on the parlous state of modern economics.

His new book, "Young, Poor and Totally Screwed" distills three and a half decades spent in financial markets, rubbing shoulders with capitalism’s most rapacious winners and Nobel Prize winners alike. This shadowy space between theory and reality is where the real economics occurs. One misstep here crashes markets and can condemn an entire generation.

His research contributions range from seeing through the veneer of innovative financial products spawned by reckless monetary policy to forensically unpicking the causes of financial crises.

When he’s not obsessing about why the rich always win, he’s a widely published opinion columnist and sometime radio show host. He is married to his inspiration Vicky and together they have received a life lesson in how much more difficult things are for their offspring than they had been back in their day.

He is also a 4th Dan karate black belt.