PLAY PODCASTS
Business Daily

Business Daily

2,128 episodes — Page 30 of 43

China's vaccine diplomacy

Poorer countries in search of Covid-19 vaccines are looking east. Agathe Demarais, global forecasting director at the Economist Intelligence Unit, describes how China and Russia are stepping in to provide vaccines where Europe and the US aren't. Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, explains how this feeds into China's soft power aspirations. Yuan Ding, dean of the China Europe International Business School, and David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance, discusses China's efforts at soft power so far. (Photo: A nurse in Brazil holds a sample of a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine)

Feb 25, 202118 min

Love in the time of coronavirus

Covid-19 has ruined millions of wedding plans. Will 2021 spark a race to the altar for those unable to tie the knot? California couple Lauren and Patrick Delgado tell their story. We also hear from Jordie Shepherd, host of the Corona Brides podcast, and the bride tear-gassed on her wedding day. Also, has Covid-19 put an end to the Big Fat Indian Wedding? We ask Lalita Raghav at the wedding planners Ferns N Petals.Picture: Bride and groom figurines are pictured wearing face masks (Credit: Getty)

Feb 24, 202117 min

The plastic pandemic

The pandemic has brought with it a massive rise in plastic waste. Tamasin Ford looks at how the demand for hygiene along with plummeting oil prices boosted our use of single use plastics. In some countries, it has increased by 50 percent. In other countries, the increase has been even six or seven fold. She speaks to Gary Stokes, the Founder of Oceans Asia in Hong Kong, a marine conservation organisation. And to Amy Slack, head of campaigns and policy at Surfers Against Sewage, an ocean conservation group in St Agnes in Cornwall in the South West of England. Plus Jacob Duer, the CEO of the Alliance to End Plastic waste, based in Singapore - an organisation supported by the private sector. And Elsie Mbugua, an energy trader and founder of Elcy Investments.

Feb 23, 202117 min

Will hydrogen prove a life saver?

The "hydrogen economy" has received a lot of hype, but could this explosive gas fill some critical gaps in a future zero-carbon energy system?Justin Rowlatt looks at Australia's plans to use its huge solar and wind resources to generate hydrogen from seawater. Miranda Taylor of the government-sponsored agency National Energy Resources Australia lists some of the many potential applications for the gas that the country is taking a punt on. But how many of them will actual prove commercially viable?Clean energy consultant Michael Liebreich says that despite hydrogen's versatility, in most cases it's likely to prove far less efficient than other technologies. But there are a few key exceptions, some of which could be life saving. Plus, chemistry professor Andrea Sella blows up a balloon, zaps some water, and nearly gives Justin a hernia.Producer: Laurence Knight(Picture: Hydrogen pipeline with blue sky background; Credit: Getty Images)

Feb 22, 202117 min

Business Weekly

They’re the technical bits of genius businesses cannot do without. On this edition of Business Weekly, we look at the world of semiconductors and why a shortage of them is holding up industries the world over. From consumer electronics to cars, the squeeze on semiconductors affects the supply of everything with a computer chip. Also, Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela becomes the first African and first female director general of the World Trade Organisation. We hear from the woman herself about the task ahead. Plus, should children be learning about bonds, shares and savings accounts as well as algebra and geometry? We speak to pupils around the world keen to learn about finance and money.

Feb 20, 202149 min

Why hair matters

To some it may sound absurd to consider hairstyles a workplace issue, but for millions of men and women with African and Afro-Caribbean hair, it is just that. For decades, some hairstyles have been discouraged at work. But things are finally starting to change. This month, the US Airforce is changing its hair code to be more inclusive. We explore the historic racism behind hair-based discrimination and hear from the women who have united to change attitudes and laws. We speak to businesswomen, historians and those in the arts – from the UK, the US and East Africa – to find out what hair has to do with it all anyway. Presenter: Vivienne Nunis Producer: Sarah Treanor(Image credit: Getty)

Feb 19, 202117 min

The Paystack effect

How the biggest start-up acquisition out of Nigeria is resonating across Africa. Last year Nigeria saw its biggest ever start-up acquisition - a multi million dollar deal for digital payments company Paystack. The result was a massive shift in the minds of entrepreneurs and investors in Africa’s Fintech scene. The company which processes more than half of all online payments in Nigeria, was started by two graduates in their 20s five years ago. It ended in a $200 hundred million dollar deal with Stripe, the US-based payments software company. Tamasin Ford speaks to Chilufya Mutale, the co-founder and CEO of PremierCredit in Lusaka, an online micro-lending platform operating in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Plus Chijioke Dozie, the co-founder of Carbon, a PanAfrican digital bank operating in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana who says the Paystack acquisition is not only inspiring for existing entrepreneurs, it will encourage more people to join the Fintech scene. And to Katlego Maphai, the co-founder and CEO of Yoco in Cape Town, a digital payments company for small businesses in South Africa. Plus Maya Horgan Famodu, the founder and Managing Director at Ingressive Capital, a Venture Capitalist Fund based in Lagos in Nigeria which targets early stage start-ups across Sub-Saharan Africa and were an early investor in Paystack. And to Amandine Lobelle, the head of business operations at Paystack. (Picture credit: Getty Creative)

Feb 18, 202118 min

The great semiconductor shortage

Why Taiwan isn't making enough computer chips. Ed Butler speaks to Jan-Peter Kleinhans, head of technology and geopolitics at SNV, a German think tank, about the central role of Taiwan in the complex global supply chain of semiconductors. The BBC's Theo Leggett explains why the car industry has been particularly hit by the shortage of chips. And Shelley Rigger, professor of East Asian politics at Davidson University in the US, discusses the growing significance of Taiwan in the technology war between China and the US.(Photo: A man walks past a company logo at the headquarters of the world's largest semiconductor maker TSMC in Taiwan, Credit: Getty Images)

Feb 17, 202118 min

Teaching children about money

Though children will usually learn how to add, subtract or multiply in school, very often they are not taught the skills they need to manage their money in older life. We’ll hear from children around the world about their understanding of, and relationship with, money. Then, Lily Lapenna MBE, of MyBnk, describes her decades long campaign to improve financial education in UK schools, and how a gap still remains between boys and girls in financial literacy. Eddie Behringer, CEO of the fintech firm Copper, explains how their bank accounts for teenagers can help build skills from early on. And Dhruti Shah, author of the illustrated business dictionary Bear Markets and Beyond, recounts how she wishes she’d realised sooner just how much finance and business would factor in her life, and how a basic business vocabulary can help you understand your world better.(Image credit: Getty Images)

Feb 16, 202118 min

Bill Gates versus climate change

Eliminating carbon emissions in the next 30 years would be "the most amazing thing humanity has ever done".In an exclusive interview, Bill Gates tells Justin Rowlatt why he has set his sights on tackling global warming, and how the challenge compares to efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic - which he is also taking a leading role in, with the funding of vaccine rollouts. The Microsoft founder and world's most influential philanthropist is particularly focused on the parts of the economy that are the toughest to decarbonise - things like cement, steel and aviation.His thinking is strongly influenced by the energy historian Vaclav Smil. Gates says he has read every one of the Czech-Canadian professor's 40-odd books on the subject. But in a rare interview, Professor Smil tells Justin that he has a decidedly more pessimistic view of how quick and painless the energy transition can be.Producer: Laurence Knight(Picture: Justin Rowlatt interviewing Bill Gates at the Natural History Museum)

Feb 15, 202117 min

Business Weekly

On this episode of Business Weekly, we examine the world of amateur traders. One in five Americans now play the stock market, but there are warnings that inexperienced traders could be caught out. Also, we take a look at the new space race. Commercial enterprises are vying to see who can get the most satellites into orbit in order to provide internet connectivity to some of the world’s poorest and most rural regions. In the week when Bumble made its market debut, we hear how dating apps are faring during the pandemic. And we chat to the man who provides books for home offices so his clients can seem well-read on video conferencing calls. Business Weekly is presented by Lucy Burton and produced by Matthew Davies.

Feb 13, 202149 min

African Free trade: What’s in it for women?

After years of planning and delays, Africa’s new trade bloc, the African Continental Free Trade Area, opened in January with the promise of transforming the continent’s economies. Amandla Ooko-Ombaka of McKinsey and Company in Nairobi explains the enormous poverty-reducing potential the bloc represents. But some are calling for the agreement’s terms to more directly benefit women, by helping facilitate trade in their wares across borders. Caroline Gethi of the Organisation of Women in International Trade and Gloria Atuheirwe of Trademark East Africa say the agreement hasn't gone far enough to promote gender equality, and that it as yet doesn’t even recognise the role of women in informal trade which is the backbone of Africa’s economies.Producer: Frey Lindsay(Image credit: Getty Images.)

Feb 12, 202117 min

Brexit and the City

Is one of the world's mighty financial centres under threat from the damage done by the UK's departure from the EU? Six weeks after the final Brexit divorce, Katie Martin of the Financial Times explains the short-term impact, and long-term implications. One winner is Amsterdam. Michael Kent, co-founder of Azimo, a digital payments firm, tells us why he's opened an office there. And if the City of London is losing its allure, why are bankers so optimistic? We hear from the boss of Barclays.Photo: A man wearing a traditional bowler hat looks over at London's financial and business district known as the Square Mile (Credit: Getty).

Feb 11, 202118 min

The rise of amateur day traders

When shares in the apparently declining games company Gamestop soared almost 2000% in less than a month, the world’s attention was drawn to an army of amateur investors on new mobile trading platforms such as Robinhood. Investment author Ann Logue breaks down what makes these amateur traders different from regular day traders, and we’ll hear from one such amateur on the ups and downs of playing the market. Professional investor Bill Brewster speaks about what responsibilities the new investing apps have in making sure their users are informed both about the risks and how the apps actually work, and Barbara Roper of the Consumer Federation of America suggests where regulation can play a part. We’ll also hear from day trader and YouTuber HumbledTrader, who cautions people from getting into the game without doing their own research.Producer: Marie Keyworth.(Image credit: Getty Images.)

Feb 10, 202118 min

Satellites to breach the digital divide

Bridging the global digital divide, using satellites in space, is the dream of the world's richest men like Elon Musk of SpaceX and Jeff Bezos of Amazon. They're joined in a new space race to carpet the earth in satellite constellations with national governments, private companies and the recently rescued OneWeb, under the new ownership of the British government and Bharti Enterprises. Sunil Bharti Mittal, the executive Chair of OneWeb tells us why firing hundreds rockets skywards makes business sense, even in a crowded market. And he's promised to leave no-one behind. We also speak to Caleb Henry of Quilty Analytics who tells us about the players in the market and Victoria Samson of the Secure World Foundation warns of the dangers of a crowded Lower Earth Orbit. Presented by Ed Butler and produced by Clare Williamson. (Image: Lift off Vr, Credits: Roscosmos and Space Center Vostochny, TsENK)

Feb 9, 202117 min

Stormy seas for global shipping

We explore the twin crises affecting the shipping industry. First, thousands of seafarers are stranded far from home, unable to travel because of the coronavirus. Add to that congestion at ports across the globe and sky-high freight rates. The result? Unprecedented pressures on an industry that’s usually far from the public eye. We hear from stranded ship-workers and those trying to help them return home. And we speak to the importers and exporters struggling to stay afloat as shipping rates go up and up.(Image credit: Getty Images.)

Feb 8, 202118 min

Business Weekly

As protests continue against the military coup in Myanmar, Business Weekly hears how the army controls the country’s economy. Jeff Bezos has announced that he’s stepping down as Amazon chief executive so he can concentrate on other projects. We think about the good he could he do if he really put his mind - and his money - to it. And it’s a dog’s life - we hear how the trade in lockdown pets is booming. Business Weekly is presented by Lucy Burton and produced by Matthew Davies.

Feb 6, 202149 min

Moon landings and economic priorities

Manuela Saragosa speaks with economist Mariana Mazzucato, who argues that America’s Apollo programme, which landed people on the moon in the 1960s, has a lot to teach us about tackling some of the biggest economic challenges on earth today. Mazzucato is calling for a bolder, more visionary and interventionist state which would take on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, among others. But would that work at a time of declining trust in government institutions and competence? And don't the UN's goals encompass societal challenges that are far more politically complex than Apollo's technological mission?(Image credit: Getty Images.)

Feb 5, 202118 min

What's a song worth?

Music streaming services have changed the game. We hear about their impact on artists' income from Tom Gray of the 90s British band Gomez. Plus, Merck Mercuriadis, whose music investment company Hipgnosis is spending billions of dollars buying the copyright to some the biggest music hits of the past 50 years.(Picture: dollar bills rain down on US pop star Miley Cyrus. Credit: Getty Images.)

Feb 4, 202118 min

Will the Olympics be postponed (again)?

Uncertainty continues to mount over this summer's delayed Tokyo Olympic Games, as Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announces he is extending a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and nine other areas through March. Last year's unprecedented postponement was arguably the biggest peacetime decision ever taken in sport. But that would be completely overshadowed by an actual cancellation. Seijiro Takeshita of the University of Shizuoka gives the view from the Japanese business community. Sports sponsorship expert Tim Crow explains how a potential delay would impact sponsorship revenue, while US economist Andrew Zimbalist takes on the larger overall costs to Japan. And we’ll also hear from Olympic medallist Kristian Thomas about what it means for players.(Image credit: Getty.)

Feb 3, 202118 min

How the military controls Myanmar's economy

Myanmar's military has announced it has taken control of the country, a decade after agreeing to hand power to a civilian government. Tin Htar Swe OBE, Myanmar analyst and former editor of the BBC Burmese Service, recounts the history leading up to this emergent coup, and where it might lead. Meanwhile, Vasuki Shastry, Associate Fellow at Chatham House's Asia-Pacific Programme, explains how the military have shaped Myanmar's economy and what effect international sanctions might have on their continued hold on it. And Rocco Macchiavello, lead academic with the International Growth Centre Myanmar, explains how, or if, Myanmar can continue its high economic growth seen over the last decade.Producer: Frey Lindsay.(Image credit: Getty Images.)

Feb 2, 202118 min

Gamestop: Is it really a case of David vs Goliath?

What is Wall Street's role in the surge in Gamestop's share price? It’s been billed as a populist revolt against the financial behemoths of Wall Street: a global gang of small investors driving up the price of Gamestop shares, forcing losses on hedge funds. But is there more to this David versus Goliath story than at first meets the eye? Manuela Saragosa speaks to Alex Patton who trades in his spare time when he’s not at his day job in cybersecurity. She also speaks to former Wall Street professional Alexis Goldstein who now advocates for financial regulation and to Elizabeth Lopatto from the US technology website The Verge. (Correction: in the programme it was said that shares had risen 70% this year when in fact they rose 70% on Friday 29 January 2021)

Feb 1, 202117 min

Business Weekly

The UK has said it will impose strict restrictions on people travelling to the country in order to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Travellers from a list of countries deemed 'high risk’ will be put into hotels to quarantine. It’s a scheme used in Australia, where cases are now low. On Business Weekly, we hear how the economy there was able to open up after the first wave of infections. We get the latest on the farmers’ protest in India after this week’s rally turned violent. The end of the Google Loon project means very little in practical terms to people in rural Africa who need internet access. It never managed to deliver on its promise to connect up more of the continent. So, what’s next? Will Elon Musk’s Starlink project be the answer? And the director of the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo tells us how he had to protect the area from exploitative companies as well as armed militias. Business Weekly is presented by Lucy Burton and produced by Matthew Davies.

Jan 30, 202149 min

The pandemic pet boom

Homeworking has led to booming pet sales. What happens when people head back to the office? Sales of dogs, cats and all sorts of other pets have soared in the developed world over the past year amid lockdowns. It’s great news for pet care businesses. But animal rescue centres are braced for the worst when and if people start heading back into work again. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Jan 29, 202117 min

The economic cost of closing schools

The economic costs of school closures amidst the pandemic could be huge. 2 billion school days have been missed so far around the world, and millions more are to come. Experts are warning of a lost generation with many children losing key skills to earn their way out of poverty. Even in the rich world, this cohort could see their future incomes fall considerably. So are governments paying enough attention? Does education have to be the trade off for public health and the economy in the pandemic? We hear from Stefania Giannini Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO who tells us that disadvantaged children will suffer the most, whilst Dr Randa Grob Zakhary, CEO, Insights for Education says that different countries have taken different approaches to education during the pandemic with starkly different results. Nisha Ligon is the co-founder of Ubongo, Africa’s biggest EdTech non-profit, who has had a busy year filling the demand for home learning in African countries with limited access to modern technology. Plus educational economist Eric Hanushek, a fellow of the Hoover Institution, Stanford University has been crunching the numbers on the impact on GDP and personal earnings for the current cohort of school children being locked out of school.(Image: School gates with closed sign. Credit: Press Association)

Jan 28, 202117 min

Kidnap in the Gulf of Guinea

Is there a new piracy crisis afflicting Africa's shipping lanes? And should the merchant ships in the region now be armed? Four men boarded a Turkish-crewed container ship out at sea in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa on Saturday - they killed a crew member and took 15 hostages. Robert Peters, a senior analyst for west Africa at Ambrey, a company which boasts the largest number of maritime security personnel in ports across the globe, tells Ed Butler what happened. Ed also speaks to Munro Anderson, who works for Dryad Global, another security firm that specialises in shipping in the area who says he doesn't think the Nigerian government is doing enough to stop kidnappings in the region. But Amy Jadesimi who is the MD of Ladol, a free trade area within Nigeria's largest port in Lagos, says they are doing quite a good job. And Professor Anja Shortland is a lecturer in political economy at Kings College London. She's also written a book, Kidnap: Inside the Ransom Business, in which she analyses how the problem of piracy around the east African coast off Somalia was effectively contained. Ed asks her if there are lessons to be learnt from that experience.(Photo: Nigerian special forces sail to intercept pirates as part of an operation in 2019, Credit: Getty Images)

Jan 27, 202118 min

Gorillas, guns and oil

Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa’s oldest and largest wildlife park. Since 1925, it’s been home to some of the last mountain gorillas on earth. But it’s also home to armed militia groups and an ongoing battle for natural resources. The park’s rangers regularly put their lives on the line protecting the precious wildlife and the Congolese communities who live within the park’s boundaries. Two weeks ago, six rangers were killed. Emmanuel De Merode, the park’s director – who also happens to be a Belgian prince – tells us his extraordinary story. Despite huge challenges he remains optimistic that renewable energy and job creation can help steer the region’s next generation of Congolese away from a cycle of violence that has caused so much damage.(Photo: A mountain gorilla in Virunga National Park. Credit: Thierry Falise for Getty)Presenter: Vivienne Nunis Producer: Sarah Treanor

Jan 26, 202117 min

Covid: Rethinking wealth and fairness

How the Covid pandemic is changing the way we see wealth and economic fairness. The Covid pandemic has not only changed the way we work. It’s also exposed how little we value the kind of work that’s kept economies afloat amid lockdowns. We hear from a panel of guests about how that’s altered our view of the relationship between wealth and fairness - and ask whether it will lead to fundamental change. (Pic of carer with patient via Getty Images).

Jan 25, 202118 min

Business Weekly

As Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th US president, business owners wondered what the new administration would do for them. We hear from some of them who tell us what they need from the President. We also look back at Donald Trump's economic legacy - will history look kindly upon his jobs and immigration policies? The director of hit Netflix series Lupin tells us why non-English language dramas are in vogue at the moment. Plus, why does honey taste different now compared to 60 years ago? Business Weekly is presented by Lucy Burton and produced by Matthew Davies.

Jan 23, 202149 min

Biden's $15 minimum wage

The new US president's plan to introduce a $15 minimum wage has sparked debate. Manuela Saragosa speaks to Allynn Umel, campaign director at the Fight for $15 campaign, about why a federal rise in wages is overdue. Jacob Vigdor, professor of public policy and governance at the University of Washington in Seattle, discusses the pros and cons of a wage hike during a pandemic with Jack Kelly, founder of recruitment firm WeCruitr.(Photo: Demonstrators participate in a protest calling for a $15 minimum wage outside of McDonald's corporate headquarters on January 15, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. Credit: Getty Images)

Jan 22, 202118 min

The practicalities of Brexit

The UK is three weeks out of the European single market and there have already been some teething problems. We hear from wine importer, Daniel Lambert and David Lindars of the British Meat Processors Association. Victoria Prentiss gives the government's view and we cross over to Belgium to hear from flower importer Kaat Baertsoen. Meanwhile, Sally Jones, Brexit lead with the consultants Ernst and Young picks through the fine details of the EU/UK trade deal. (Picture of Scottish seafood lorry by Tolga Akmen via Getty Images).

Jan 21, 202117 min

Joe Biden vs climate change

How the US is set to return to the fight against global warming. Justin Rowlatt speaks to Todd Stern, the US special envoy for climate change under Barack Obama, and to Rache Kyte, dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University in the US, about plans to reverse the environmental policies of the Trump era. Christiana Figueres, who negotiated the Paris Agreement on climate change for the UN, tells us why she's excited by the return of the US to the global stage.(Photo: Wind turbines near Palm Springs, California, Credit: Getty Images)

Jan 20, 202117 min

Is Covid causing a shortage of medical oxygen?

Amidst rising Covid infection levels, we're looking at one alarming threat to health services from Brazil to Egypt - a lack of medical oxygen. Hospitals have been reporting running out altogether, with some critical care patients dying as a result. Where does medical oxygen come from and what is the problem with its supply? Ed Butler hears from Mike Grocott, professor of anaesthesia and critical care at the University of Southampton, as well as gas industry consultant John Raquet. Also in the programme, Pakistani comedian Shafaat Ali tells us what it’s like for patients forced to source their own oxygen to survive. (Picture: A man holds an oxygen tank in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil. Credit: Getty)

Jan 19, 202117 min

When will a Covid-19 vaccine be available to you?

Covid-19 vaccine rollouts across the world demonstrate huge global health inequalities. Many countries in the global south are struggling to access one of the vaccines currently available around the world. That's despite a global facility called COVAX, set up under the auspices of the world health organisation, tasked with helping low and middle income countries access vaccines. While rich countries have accumulated extensive supply deals some countries may have to wait until 2022 or later before supplies are widely available. We hear from Mesfin Teklu Tessema, head of the Health Unit at the International Rescue Committee and Fatima Hussein, a human rights lawyer and founder of the Health Justice Initiative in South Africa. Plus Sir Mene Pangalos. the executive vice president of biopharmaceutical R&D at AstraZeneca which developed its Covid-19 vaccine in conjunction with oxford university and has made it available on a not-for-profit basis.(Photo: an Israeli healthcare worker prepares a dose of the covid-19 vaccine. Credit: Getty Images.)

Jan 18, 202118 min

Business Weekly

It’s been a week in which the US president, Donald Trump, was suspended from his social media accounts and the social network Parler was taken offline. On Business Weekly, we explore the role these companies have in society and whether they facilitate free speech and cohesion, as they claim. Plus, the BBC’s Justin Rowlatt speaks to Tesla founder Elon Musk about money, electric cars and populating other planets. And it probably feels like a lifetime ago that any of us went to a cinema to watch a film, popcorn in hand. Will they ever return? Our reporter Vincent Dowd hears from the world's most northerly movie theatre about its struggles during the pandemic. And should you do what you love, or love what you do? We speak to pianist who ditched his passion to become an accountant. Business Weekly is produced by Matthew Davies and presented by Vishala Sri-Pathma.

Jan 16, 202149 min

Who owns colour?

Scientists, artists and some of the world’s biggest companies are carving up the visual spectrum, and claiming certain colours as their own, so who does have a right to use the colours of the rainbow? We explore the ongoing rift over the worlds “blackest black” Vantablack, which was created by engineering firm Surrey Nanosystems, and can only be used by the artist Anish Kapoor. Contemporary British artist Stuart Semple argues that creativity should not be limited by commercial agreements, while Surrey Nanosystems executive Ben Jensen explains that the material is not suitable for general use. Author Kassia St Clair explores the meaning and history of colour, and we hear how interpretations of colour have changed from Julie Irish, an assistant professor specialising in colour, at the College of Design in Iowa. Note: Surrey NanoSystems has clarified their material Vantablack isn’t toxic, as described by one speaker in this programme, but can be an irritant.(Picture of a colour splash via Getty Images).

Jan 15, 202117 min

Trump: The corporate backlash

Will it last and why have stock markets been shrugging off political developments? A slew of companies have cut off all funding to political parties in the wake of Trump-supporting mobs storming Capitol Hill after the President and other Republican politicians claimed the US election had been stolen. The list of firms who’ve halted funding through their political action committees - or PACs as they’re known - is long. JP Morgan Chase, Citigorup, Facebook, Microsoft, American Express, Morgan Stanley, the chemical company Dow, the hotel chain Marriott and the card company Hallmark which went a step further, admonishing their local senators. Manuela Saragosa speaks to Jason Karaian from the New York Times newspaper who says his paper has run an editorial calling on the country to look again at how corporate America funds the country’s politics. Plus Mohamed El Erian tells her why the share markets were unfazed by all of this.(Picture: US President Donald Trump. Credit: BBC.)

Jan 14, 202117 min

Should Trump be banned from social media?

President Trump's ban from various social media raises the question of their regulation. Are they right to ban him, and what are the implications? We ask Nancy Mace, a newly elected Republican representative of South Carolina. Cory Doctorow, blogger, author and activist in favour of liberalising copyright laws, says that Apple and Google can't blame inadequate moderation for their banning of social network Parler on their platforms. And we hear from Professor Shoshana Zuboff, author of a book The age of surveillance capitalism, who thinks the law will bring the beginning of the end of 'Big Tech'. .(Picture: Trump's Twitter profile showing the account is suspended. Credit: Getty Images.)

Jan 13, 202117 min

Forced labour in supply chains

China is forcing hundreds of thousands of Uighurs and other minorities into hard, manual labour in the vast cotton fields of its western region of Xinjiang, according to BBC reports. As a result, apparel companies are facing mounting pressure to withdraw from economic ties with the region, and certainly to stop buying cotton from there. Chloe Cranston of UK-based Anti-Slavery International lays out the case for why companies need to avoid Xinjiang. But as we’ll hear from Andrew Morgan of veteran thread supplier Coats, even though the moral imperative is there, the apparel industry is not completely unified in motivation for change. And we’ll hear from two companies, boutique fashion brand Eileen Fisher and global furniture mainstay IKEA, on their efforts to have an ethical supply chain. Producer: Frey Lindsay(Picture credit: Getty Images)

Jan 12, 202118 min

Choosing a career: Don't follow your passion?

When it comes to choosing a career, should you do what you love or learn to love whatever you do? A clip of Professor Scott Galloway of NYU Stern Business School saying "don't follow your passion" recently went viral. He tells us why you're better off finding something you're good at - and getting very good at it. Someone who did just that is Farid Gasanov. Instead of becoming a professional pianist and composer, he chose accountancy. But he now has his own firm and has time to compose pieces, and play them on the piano he has been able to afford.(Picture: Farid Gasanov playing his piano. Credit: Farid Gasanov.)

Jan 11, 202117 min

Business Weekly

In the week when a mob stormed the US Congress, Business Weekly examines the enormous task now facing President-elect Joe Biden. How will he unite the country and how will the new balance of power in Congress affect his economic agenda? Mr Biden’s campaign slogan was “Build Back Better” - we’ll ask whether the world will rise to the task of creating more equal societies once the pandemic is over. Nobel Prize winner Sir Angus Deaton says it’s possible. We’ll also get the secret to a good night’s sleep and hear why women are once again allowed to drive Moscow’s subway trains. Business Weekly is presented by Lucy Burton and produced by Matthew Davies.

Jan 9, 202149 min

What makes Elon Musk tick?

Elon Musk, the space pioneer and electric car guru, now ranks as one of the world's richest men, thanks to a surge in the value of shares in his company Tesla. In an interview from 2014, he tells the BBC's chief environment correspondent Justin Rowlatt what drives him to take on some of the world's most technologically challenging projects, and how he feels about the wealth he's accumulated over the years.

Jan 8, 202117 min

Can the Democrats make economic change?

The Democrats and President-elect Biden have won control of the US Congress after results came in from two elections in Georgia. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff defeated Republican incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue respectively. Mr Biden will have a much better chance now of pushing through his legislative agenda. We'll hear from former President Obama's top economic adviser Jason Furman, about how this might shape the country's economic future, while Chris Low of FHN Financial in New York gives us Wall Street's reaction. We'll also be joined live by entrepreneur and former economic adviser under President Bush, Pippa Malmgren to discuss the night of violence seen in the country's capitol buildings.Producer: Frey Lindsay.(Image: A voter leaves a polling station on January 5, 2021 in Marietta, Georgia. Image credit: Getty Creative.)

Jan 7, 202117 min

Predicting the future of retail

With much of the world going back into stringent lockdowns and people warned away, or even outright banned, from physical stores and malls, some observers are suggesting this might be the moment online retail takes the dominant position. Others, however, say this is just the last of a long line of challenges for high street retail, and they’re not giving up without a fight. We’ll hear from branding consultant and futurist Karinna Nobbs as well as the self-styled “Retail Prophet” Doug Stephens.(Image credit: Getty Creative)

Jan 6, 202117 min

“Remote working” in the Indian Ocean

Pip Hare is currently sailing solo round the world in the Vendee Globe race, one of only a handful of women to attempt it. She speaks to the BBC’s Zoe Kleinman from the middle of the Indian Ocean, while preparing for a storm. We’ll hear about coping with isolation, the challenges of sleeping in 30 minute bursts, and why Pip was so committed to her teenage dream of becoming a professional sailor. (Picture credit: Pip Hare)

Jan 5, 202118 min

Thinking global, acting local

Lessons in rethinking the climate emergency from Sierra Leone and the US. We hear from mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr on her plans to plant a million trees, and make climate change relevant to the citizens of the rapidly urbanising capital city. Harvard’s Rebecca Henderson argues that capitalism can provide at least part of the solution, and companies need to price in climate damage, making them financially accountable.(Image credit: Getty Images)

Jan 4, 202118 min

Business Weekly

The UK has given the green light to the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid19 vaccine. It’s cheaper and easier to store than some of the alternatives - and the hope is that will make it easier to distribute globally. However, there are worries that production capacity and an unwillingness to share intellectual data might mean the poorest in the world won’t get the immunisation. We speak to Anna Marriott of Oxfam. Also on the show we’ll be mulling over the Brexit deal. We get the view from businesses both sides of the Channel about what the future will bring now the UK and EU have a new trade relationship. We also hear from former EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom who tells us what effect the divorce will have on the rest of the union. As the rest of the world continues to struggle with Covid 19, China is getting back to normal. We hear from Wuhan and Shanghai. Plus, food businesses discuss how they’ve adapted to survive during the pandemic. Business Weekly is presented by Lucy Burton and produced by Clare Williamson. (Image:University of Oxford researcher in a laboratory at the Jenner Institute, working on the coronavirus vaccine. Image credit: John Cairns/University of Oxford/PA Wire)

Jan 2, 202149 min

UK completes separation from European Union

A new era has begun for the United Kingdom after it completed its formal separation from the European Union. The UK stopped following EU rules, as replacement arrangements for travel, trade, immigration and security co-operation came into force. On today's programme, we'll hear how we got to this point with Marie Keyworth, and then Vivienne Nunis will tell us what's happening today. Then, Dr Anna Jerzewska, Director of the trade consultancy Trade and Borders and Allie Renison with the Institute of Directors will discuss the UK's trade opportunities in the future.Producer: Frey Lindsay.(Picture credit: Reuters.)

Jan 1, 202117 min

Millennial money management

What are the realities and responsibilities of young people when it comes to financial planning in a pandemic? Elizabeth Hotson talks to millennials who are trying to manage their money in one of the toughest economic periods since the financial crisis. We hear from Gaby Dunn, host of the Bad with Money podcast; journalist Ebony-Renee Baker who’s planning for herself and her family and Nick Hatter, a life coach who says younger people are far more fiscally responsible than they’re given credit for. Producers: Elizabeth Hotson and Sarah Treanor (Picture of cash via Getty Images).

Dec 31, 202018 min

Casual dining in a pandemic

Necessity is the mother of invention and Elizabeth Hotson finds out how restaurants and other food outlets - some of the most obvious casualties of the pandemic - have adapted to survive in 2020. We hear from Michael Ward, managing director of Harrods department store on how it’s looking to a domestic clientele to make up for the lack of overseas tourists, whilst JP Then, co-founder of Crosstown Doughnuts tells us how companies are incentivising their workers with his sweet treats. Briony Raven, Pret’s UK Food & Coffee Director explains how the high street chain had to learn new tricks and Thom Elliot from Pizza Pilgrims describes sending his products by post. Nicole Ponseca, founder of Jeepney in New York tells us about the ups and downs of a fraught 2020 and Dominic Allport from the NPD Group gives us the cold, hard figures. Produced by Sarah Treanor. (Pic of Regent Street in London by Elizabeth Hotson).

Dec 30, 202018 min