Simon Evans Goes To Market

Simon Evans has the answer in this series which asks us to get involved in investment.

Uncowed by an apparently complicated and overwhelming system, Simon focuses on four commodities so intrinsic to our lives they have an almost elemental significance - land, gold, oil and grain.

Yet, despite us encountering them everywhere we look, very few people have been able to build a fortune on them. But that's set to change as, Simon enlists help from the experts - Tim Harford, Merryn Somerset Webb and a guest specialist as they examine the chequered social and economic histories of these commodities.

By looking at four such fundamental products, Simon brings us to a closer understanding of how global economic forces have a far-reaching and often surprising impact on our lives.

In this first episode, Simon looks at Land. How did it come to be traded, why we think bricks and mortar are a safe investment and who really owns the land we buy?

Performed by Simon Evans, with regular guests Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset-Webb, and Land expert Kevin Cahill

Written by Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge, Guy Venables and Andy Wolton.

Simon and guests ask how land came to be traded and who really owns the land we buy.

Written by - Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge, Guy Venables, Andy Wolton

Simon explores how land came to be traded. Who really owns the land we buy? With Kevin Cahill. From May 2014.

Simon is joined by regular guests:

Simon asks how land came to be traded. Who really owns the land we buy?

[LISTEN NOW]

In this episode, Simon looks at commodities markets in grain. How moral is it to trade in food? how much of it is animal feed and what is the future of food?

Performed by - Simon Evans, with regular guests Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset-Webb, and to talk about grain markets, Kanes Rajah and Jim Rogers.

Simon asks how moral it is to trade in food. And what is the future of food?

Simon Evans has the answers in this series which asks us to get involved in the funny side of investment.

All that's about to change as, Simon enlists help from the experts to help brings us closer to understanding of how global economic forces have a far-reaching and often surprising impact on our lives.

Written by Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge, Guy Venables and Andy Wolton.

Simon asks is it moral to trade in food? How much of it is animal feed and what is the future? With Jim Rogers. From May 2014.

Simon is joined by regular guests:

Simon asks how moral it is to trade in food. And what future for food?

[LISTEN NOW]

Simon looks at why we buy and sell gold all around the world.

When did that begin? Why do we continue now we have paper money?

Simon Evans has the answers in this series which asks us to get involved in the funny side of investment.

All that's about to change as, Simon enlists help from the experts to help brings us closer to understanding of how global economic forces have a far-reaching and often surprising impact on our lives.

Performed by Simon Evans, with regular guests Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset-Webb, , and to talk about the trade in gold, Dominic Frisby.

Written by Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge, Guy Venables and Andy Wolton.

Simon looks at why we buy and sell gold all around the world. With Dominic Frisby.

In this episode, Simon looks at why we buy and sell gold all around the world. When did that begin? Why do we continue now we have paper money?

Why do we buy and sell gold all around the world? Why do we continue now we have paper money? With Tim Harford. From May 2014.

Simon is joined by regular guests:

[LISTEN NOW]

Simon looks at commodities markets in oil. Why is this trade different to others?

In this episode, Simon looks at commodities markets in oil or petrolium. How is it produced? Why is this trade different to others? Is our over-reliance on it dangerous?

Performed by....Simon Evans, with regular guests Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset-Webb, and to talk about Oil markets, Paul Horsnell.

Written by....Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton

Researcher....Matthew Oldham

Producer....Tilusha Ghelani.

Simon Evans has the answers in this series which asks us to get involved in the funny side of investment.

All that's about to change as, Simon enlists help from the experts to help brings us closer to understanding of how global economic forces have a far-reaching and often surprising impact on our lives.

Written by Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge, Guy Venables and Andy Wolton.

Simon looks at commodities markets in oil. How is it produced? Why is this trade different to others? From 2014.

[LISTEN NOW]

Can't face an evening without a glass of wine? The comedian presents a lecture.

Presented by Simon Evans, with regular guests Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset-Webb.

Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton.

Produced by Claire Jones.

Comedian Simon Evans returns with a series about the economics of some of the goods - or bads - we are addicted to.

Simon looks at the economics, history and health issues behind these oh-so-addictive commodities.

Producer: Claire Jones

Simon walks us around the economics, history and health issues behind these oh-so-addictive commodities - and pokes fun at our relationship with them.

With economics guru, More Or Less host Tim Harford and Queen of investment know-how, Merryn Somerset-Webb.

Simon Evans presents a comedy lecture on the economics behind alcohol.

Simon is joined by regular guests:

* Economics guru, Tim Harford

Can't face an evening without wine? The comedian lectures on the economics.

Can't face an evening without a glass of wine? The comedian presents a lecture on the economics behind alcohol. From 2015.

[LISTEN NOW]

Can't face a night without a cigarette? A lecture on the economics of the addictive weed.

This week it's tobacco. It's been called the single biggest avoidable cause of death in the world today yet it has remained an investment goldmine, with a single pound invested in tobacco stocks in 1900 now being worth over 6 million pounds.

Simon speaks to Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology and Director of Tobacco Studios at University College London about current global trends in smoking. He is also joined by economics guru, More Or Less host Tim Harford and the Queen of investment know-how, Merryn Somerset-Webb, as he walks us around the economics of these very familiar commodities and pokes fun at our relationship with them.

Presented by Simon Evans, with Professor Robert West, Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset-Webb.

Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton.

Produced by Claire Jones.

Comedian Simon Evans continues his series about the economics of some of the goods - or bads - we are addicted to.

Simon looks at the economics, history and health issues behind these oh-so-addictive commodities.

This time it's tobacco. It's been called the single biggest avoidable cause of death in the world today yet it has remained an investment goldmine, with a single pound invested in tobacco stocks in 1900 now being worth over 6 million pounds.

Producer: Claire Jones

He's also joined by economics guru, More Or Less host Tim Harford and the Queen of investment know-how, Merryn Somerset-Webb, as he walks us around the economics of these very familiar commodities and pokes fun at our relationship with them.

Simon Evans presents a comedy lecture on the economics behind tobacco.

Can't face an evening without a cigarette? The comedian presents a lecture on the economics of the addictive weed. From 2015.

With regular guests:

* Economics guru, Tim Harford

Can't face a night without a fag? Simon lectures on the economics of the addictive weed.

Can't face an evening without a cigarette? Comedian Simon is lecturing on the economics of the addictive weed. From 2015.

[LISTEN NOW]

Comedian Simon Evans continues his series about the economics of some of the goods - or bads - we are addicted to.

What are the economics, history and health issues behind these oh-so-addictive commodities?

This time it's coffee.

How much are we now drinking as a nation? And how much of the price of a cup of coffee is actually the coffee beans? Are we giving coffee growers the best deal when we buy Fairtrade coffee or should we be seeking out Direct trade coffee? And could this be the least harmful of all addictions?

Perhaps even a positive addiction, with the coffee shop being, as Steven Johnson said (in his recent 'Where good ideas come from' TED talk), 'a place where ideas can have sex'?

Simon speaks to specialist coffee experts Onny Loisel and Michael Cleland.

He's also joined by economics guru, More Or Less host Tim Harford and the Queen of investment know-how, Merryn Somerset-Webb, as he walks us around the economics of this very familiar commodity and pokes fun at our relationship with it.

Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton.

Producer: Claire Jones

Simon Evans presents a comedy lecture on the economics behind coffee.

How much are we now drinking as a nation? And how much of the price of a cup of coffee is actually the coffee beans? Are we giving coffee growers the best deal when we buy Fairtrade coffee or should we be seeking out Direct trade coffee? And could this be the least harmful of all addictions? Perhaps even a positive addiction, with the coffee shop being, as Steven Johnson said (in his recent 'Where good ideas come from' TED talk), 'a place where ideas can have sex'?

Simon speaks to specialist coffee experts Onny Loisel and Michael Cleland. He is also joined by economics guru, More Or Less host Tim Harford and the Queen of investment know-how, Merryn Somerset-Webb, as he walks us around the economics of this very familiar commodity and pokes fun at our relationship with it.

Presented by Simon Evans, with Onny Loisel and Michael Cleland, Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset Webb.

This week it's coffee. How much are we now drinking as a nation? And how much of the price of a cup of coffee is actually the coffee beans? Are we giving coffee growers the best deal when we buy Fairtrade coffee or should we be seeking out Direct trade coffee? And could this be the least harmful of all addictions? Perhaps even a positive addiction, with the coffee shop being, as Steven Johnson said (in his recent 'Where good ideas come from' TED talk), 'a place where ideas can have sex'?

Produced by Claire Jones.

A comedy lecture on the economics behind commodities we're addicted to. Just how harmful is a coffee addiction? From 2015.

[LISTEN NOW]

This week it's sugar. Some people say sugar could be the new tobacco - exposed as a health risk that's been knowingly concealed for decades. And the trouble is sugar is in almost everything now - even things that 'look' savoury. What part does economics have to play in how we have got to this point? How do we make sense of what the food industry is doing with sugar? And if we want to invest in this addiction, how do we do it?

With the help of economics guru, More Or Less host Tim Harford and the Queen of investment know-how, Merryn Somerset Webb, plus author David Gillespie, Simon walks us around the economics of this very familiar commodity and pokes fun at our relationship with it.

Presented by Simon Evans, with regular guests Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset Webb.

Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton.

Produced by Claire Jones.

Comedian Simon Evans continues his series about the economics of some of the goods - or bads - we are addicted to.

What are the economics, history and health issues behind these oh-so-addictive commodities?

This time it's sugar.

Producer: Claire Jones

Simon Evans presents a comedy lecture on the economics behind sugar.

Comedy lecture on the economics behind goods we're addicted to – unravelling how the food industry deals with sugar. From 2015.

Comedian Simon Evans' series about the economics of some of the goods - or bads - to which we're addicted.

[LISTEN NOW]

As always, he is joined by:

* Financial Times columnist and presenter of Radio 4's 'More or Less', economist Tim Harford

* Financial guru and editor of Money Week, Merryn Somerset Webb.

In this episode, Simon looks at Youth - that period in life when the young suddenly disengage from the home unit and plummet from the safety of the family nest.

The team cover everything from pocket money and exam subject choice, to university and whether the property ladder still exists.

* Special guest expert: Professor Alison Wolf, Baroness Wolf of Dulwich shares her views on whether education matters and how that affects the labour markets.

Which subjects should you study at school if you want to be a millionaire?

Should you go to university?

Take a gap year?

What are the implications of all these decisions on your future economic standing?

Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton.

Producer: Claire Jones

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2016.

Simon Evans presents comedy lectures on economics behind four commodities. Today, youth.

This week Simon looks at Youth - that period in life when the young suddenly disengage from the home unit and plummet from the safety of the family nest.

The programme looks at everything from pocket money and exam subject choice, to university and whether the property ladder still exists.

Baroness Alison Wolf is the guest expert, who shares her views on whether education matters and how that affects the labour markets. Which subjects should you study at school if you want to be a millionaire? Should you go to university? Take a gap year? What are the implications of all these decisions on your future economic standing.

Presenter: Simon Evans, with Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset Webb

Special guest: Professor Alison Wolf, Baroness Wolf of Dulwich

Simon explores youth, from pocket money and exam subject choice to university and property ladders. With Tim Harford. From 2016.

[LISTEN NOW]

As always, he is joined by Financial Times columnist and presenter of Radio 4's 'More or Less', economist Tim Harford and financial guru and editor of Money Week, Merryn Somerset Webb.

In this episode, Simon looks at marriage. Is it all romance and flowers and living in harmony? Or is it in fact the most commercial of transactions, riddled with economic calculations from beginning to end. And talking of the end, what are the economic effects of divorce on the ex-happy couple?

Also on stage are Andy and Sophie who are preparing for their wedding. Simon mercilessly picks apart their every decision - from an economics point of view of course.

Special guest Dr Maria Sironi talks about her research paper Happiness, Housework and Gender Inequality in Europe.

Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton.

Producer: Claire Jones

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2016.

Is marriage all romance and living in harmony, or the most commercial of transactions?

This week Simon looks at Marriage. Is it all romance and flowers and living in harmony? Or is it in fact the most commercial of transactions, riddled with economic calculations from beginning to end. And talking of the end, what are the economic effects of divorce on the ex-happy couple?

Special guest is Dr Maria Sironi who talks about her research paper Happiness, Housework and Gender Inequality in Europe.

Presenter: Simon Evans, with Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset Webb

Simon Evans' comedy lecture on four of the big stages that mark our journey through life and how economics is part of every one of those stages, whether we like it or not.

Simon asks if marriage is all romance and harmony, or the most commercial of transactions. With Merryn Somerset Webb. From 2016.

[LISTEN NOW]

Another comedy lecture on four of the big life stages that mark our journey through life.

Simon Evans explains how economics is part of every one of those stages, whether we like it or not.

As always, he is joined by Financial Times columnist and presenter of Radio 4's 'More or Less', economist Tim Harford and financial guru and editor of Money Week, Merryn Somerset Webb.

In this episode, Simon looks at Birth.

Also on stage are Andy and Sophie who are thinking about having children.

From an economic point of view, should they at all? If they do, how many should they have? And when should they have them?

Special guest Professor James Sefton talks about the optimal birth rate for the country, economically-speaking.

Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge, Andy Wolton and Guy Venables.

Producer: Claire Jones.

Simon Evans' comedy-economics hybrid - this week about birth.

This week Simon looks at Birth.

Also on stage are Andy and Sophie who are thinking about having children. From an economic point of view, should they at all? If they do, how many should they have? And when should they have them?

This week's special guest is Professor James Sefton who talks about the optimal birth rate for the country, economically-speaking.

Presenter: Simon Evans, with Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset Webb

Guests: Professor James Sefton, Sophie Richardson

Simon asks from an economic point of view, should people have children, how many and when? With Tim Harford. From 2016.

Another comedy lecture on four of the big stages that mark our journey through life.

Simon Evans' comedy-economics hybrid focuses on birth.

[LISTEN NOW]

Simon Evans' final comedy lecture on four of the big life stages marking our journey through life and how economics is part of every one of those stages, whether we like it or not.

As always, he is joined by Financial Times columnist and presenter of Radio 4's 'More or Less', economist Tim Harford and financial guru and editor of Money Week, Merryn Somerset Webb.

In the final episode, Simon looks at (probably) the most final of life stages: Death.

From paying for funerals to the cost of cryonics, and the cheery subject of getting your final finances in order, this inevitably morbid programme will also make you laugh.

Special guest is Louise de Winter, funeral planner and the editor of the Good Funeral Guide.

Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton.

Producer: Claire Jones.

From paying for funerals to cryonics, what are the economics of death?

This week in the final programme of the series, Simon looks at (probably) the most final of life stages: Death.

Presenter: Simon Evans, with Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset Webb

Special guest: Louise de Winter

From paying for funerals to cryonics, what are the economics of death? With Louise de Winter. From 2016.

[LISTEN NOW]

From the country-sized economy of Google changing the way we see adverts; to the seemingly free apps like Uber making San Francisco the economic centre of the world and changing the concept of local business; to social media platforms like Facebook redefining us as economic actors... the way we work, shop, meet, and think about money is profoundly changing. Many of these technologies look benign and free - but who is getting rich from them? And how? And how are we 'paying' without realising?

Starring: Simon Evans with Tim Harford and Timandra Harkness

Written by Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge

Researcher: Andrew Wright

Production coordinator: Toby Tilling

Producer: Richard Morris

Simon Evans uses his 'jokenomics' lens to make money funny.

Episode 2: Tax Free

Most individuals who earn money or businesses that make a profit are required to cheerfully wave off substantial proportions of their money to the public good. But as soon as those individuals or corporations achieve a certain critical mass, they just sort of drift off to some mythical island whose co-ordinates are unknown to common folk, where they erect a giant tax-repellant rainbow over them to protect them from the tiresome responsibility of paying their way. Should we in fact find this as grossly infuriating as it appears to be?

Starring: Simon Evans with Tim Harford and Timandra Harkness

Written by Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge

Researcher: Andrew Wright

Production coordinator: Toby Tilling

Producer: Richard Morris

Simon Evans uses his 'jokenomics' lens to make money funny.

There comes a point in every busy tycoon's life when he or she realises that accruing vast wealth, power and prestige has not brought with it the warm glow they had hoped for. The solution was suggested several hundred years ago, most notably by the Earl of Shaftesbury - philanthropy. Literally - the love of what it is to be human - but more usually meant as, charity, but on a large scale and with your name over the door. But is it as economically straightforward as it seems?

Starring: Simon Evans with Tim Harford and Timandra Harkness

Written by Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge

Researcher: Andrew Wright

Production coordinator: Toby Tilling

Producer: Richard Morris

Simon Evans uses his 'jokenomics' lens to make money funny.

Episode 4: The Cost of Health

While many services are now provided free of charge others continue to be very expensive, despite a widely held view that they should be free. Nowhere more so than in the field of healthcare. Big Pharma, as it is for some reason known (presumably to confuse people that it's all about fields), makes millions out of selling drugs to the poorly. With the economic complexities of healthcare provision growing more and more complex, what are the implications of an industry that thrives on our ill health? Who decides what gets subsidized, and how?

Starring: Simon Evans with Tim Harford and Timandra Harkness

Written by Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge

Researcher: Andrew Wright

Production coordinator: Toby Tilling

Producer: Richard Morris

Simon Evans uses his 'jokenomics' lens to make money funny.

So the time is right to take a step back, and perhaps two steps up, and tackle the big, competing theories of Macro Economics.

These are little short of religions to their proponents, and the figures who devised them dominate the intellectual landscape in a way that mere politicians can only dream of. These are the Big Beards, the Glinting Eyes, the Bristling Moustaches and Eyebrows of 'Worldly Philosophy' and their insights, calculations and hallucinations remain as contentious today as they were when first inked into place.

Simon Evans, with the help of Undercover Economist, Tim Harford will advance through the modern industrial era using three great beacons as their guide - Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes - and reflect on how they continue to shape our world today.

In this opening episode, Adam Smith is under Simon and Tim's jokenomics microscope. Smith, the author of The Wealth of Nations, the first modern work of economics, is still incomparably influential in Western political and economic thought. His faith and trust in the Invisible Hand remains one of the most misunderstood of all economic paradigms, and in his name to this day are committed all too visibly ham-fisted atrocities, that would make even his pale Presbyterian skin blanche.

A £20 note serves as a handy mutlimedia accompaniment to this episode.

Presenters: Simon Evans and Tim Harford

Written by Simon Evans, Tim Harford, Dan Evans and Robert Ledger.

Producer: Richard Morris

Simon Evans uses his 'jokenomics' lens to make money funny

Radio 4's premier comedy-economics hybrid is five series old and the time is right to take a step back, and perhaps two steps up, and tackle the big, competing theories of Macro Economics. These are little short of religions to their proponents, and the figures who devised them dominate the intellectual landscape in a way that mere politicians can only dream of. These are the Big Beards, the Glinting Eyes, the Bristling Moustaches and Eyebrows of Worldly Philosophy and their insights, calculations and hallucinations remain as contentious today as they were when first inked into place.

In this series Simon Evans, with the help of Undercover Economist, Tim Harford will advance through the modern industrial era using three great beacons as their guide - Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes - and reflect on how they continue to shape our world today.

In episode 1, Adam Smith is under Simon and Tim's jokenomics microscope. Smith, the author of The Wealth of Nations, the first modern work of economics, is still incomparably influential in Western political and economic thought. His faith and trust in the Invisible Hand remains one of the most misunderstood of all economic paradigms, and in his name to this day are committed all too visibly ham-fisted atrocities, that would make even his pale Presbyterian skin blanche.

Writers: Simon Evans, Tim Harford, Dan Evans and Robert Ledger

In episode 1, Adam Smith is under Simon and Tim's jokenomics microscope. Smith, the author of The Wealth of Nations, the first modern work of economics and still incomparably influential in Western political and economic thought. His faith and trust in the Invisible Hand remains one of the most misunderstood of all economic paradigms, and in his name to this day are committed all too visibly ham-fisted atrocities, that would make even his pale Presbyterian skin blanche.

A £20 serves as a handy multimedia accompaniment to this episode.

Adam Smith gets the Goes to Market treatment.

These are little short of religions to their proponents, and the figures who devised them dominate the intellectual landscape in a way that mere politicians can only dream of. These are the Big Beards, the Glinting Eyes, the Bristling Moustaches and Eyebrows of 'Worldly Philosophy' and their insights, calculations and hallucinations remain as contentious today as they were when first inked into place.

In this series Simon Evans, with the help of Undercover Economist, Tim Harford will advance through the modern industrial era using three great beacons as their guide - Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes - and reflect on how they continue to shape our world today.

In this episode, we leap forward 100 years to Karl Marx.

A towering figure in world, let alone economic, history, and endlessly fascinating as much as for his personal foibles as for his vast influence on the course of 20th-century history. Few figures are more divisive.

Yet is he fully or even remotely understood by one tenth of those who have strong views on him? Are his central ideas now discredited by history, or are we still waiting for his philosophy to stop merely describing the world, as for many it still does, and instead, as he famously declared, to start changing it? Is Marxism genuinely gaining ground even as his economic predictions gather dust? And what exactly is dialectical materialism?

All this plus jokes in 28 minutes.

Presenters: Simon Evans and Tim Harford

Writers: Simon Evans, Tim Harford, Dan Evans and Robert Ledger

Producer: Richard Morris

Simon Evans uses his 'jokenomics' lens to take a look at the influence of Karl Marx.

Radio 4's premier comedy-economics hybrid is five series old and the time is right to take a step back, and perhaps two steps up, and tackle the big, competing theories of Macro Economics. These are little short of religions to their proponents, and the figures who devised them dominate the intellectual landscape in a way that mere politicians can only dream of. These are the Big Beards, the Glinting Eyes, the Bristling Moustaches and Eyebrows of Worldly Philosophy and their insights, calculations and hallucinations remain as contentious today as they were when first inked into place.

In episode 2, from Adam Smith last week, we leap forward a hundred years to Karl Marx. A towering figure in world, let alone economic, history, and endlessly fascinating as much as for his personal foibles as for his vast influence on the course of twentieth century history. Few figures are more divisive. Yet is he fully or even remotely understood by one tenth of those who have strong views on him? Are his central ideas now discredited by history, or are we still waiting for his philosophy to stop merely describing the world, as for many it still does, and instead, as he famously declared, to start changing it? Is Marxism genuinely gaining ground even as his economic predictions gather dust? And what exactly is Dialectical Materialism? All this plus jokes in 28 minutes.

Simon Evans uses his 'jokenomics' lens to make money funny

These are little short of religions to their proponents, and the figures who devised them dominate the intellectual landscape in a way that mere politicians can only dream of. These are the Big Beards, the Glinting Eyes, the Bristling Moustaches and Eyebrows of 'Worldly Philosophy' and their insights, calculations and hallucinations remain as contentious today as they were when first inked into place.

In this series Simon Evans, with the help of Undercover Economist, Tim Harford will advance through the modern industrial era using three great beacons as their guide - Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes - and reflect on how they continue to shape our world today.

In this episode, the spotlight shines on John Maynard Keynes, a figure whose analysis and suggested solutions for the West's economic woes are still argued over as heatedly in Westminster and Washington as if they had been published just last week.

Keynes was an extraordinary figure, not only an economic visionary but that rarest of things, one who put his money where his mouth was, and to great effect - his canny investments kept the entire Bloomsbury group afloat and in crayons, though we needn't hold that against him.

Presenters: Simon Evans and Tim Harford

Writers: Simon Evans, Tim Harford, Dan Evans and Robert Ledger

Producer: Richard Morris

Simon Evans uses his 'jokenomics' lens to make money funny.

Radio 4's premier comedy-economics hybrid is five series old and the time is right to take a step back, and perhaps two steps up, and tackle the big, competing theories of Macro Economics. These are little short of religions to their proponents, and the figures who devised them dominate the intellectual landscape in a way that mere politicians can only dream of. These are the Big Beards, the Glinting Eyes, the Bristling Moustaches and Eyebrows of 'Worldly Philosophy' and their insights, calculations and hallucinations remain as contentious today as they were when first inked into place.

For episode 3 we look at John Maynard Keynes, a figure whose analysis and suggested solutions for the West's economic woes are still argued over as heatedly in Westminster and Washington as if they had been published just last week. Keynes was an extraordinary figure, not only an economic visionary but that rarest of things, one who put his money where his mouth was, and to great effect - his canny investments kept the entire Bloomsbury group afloat and in crayons, though we needn't hold that against him.

These are little short of religions to their proponents, and the figures who devised them dominate the intellectual landscape in a way that mere politicians can only dream of. These are the Big Beards, the Glinting Eyes, the Bristling Moustaches and Eyebrows of 'Worldly Philosophy' and their insights, calculations and hallucinations remain as contentious today as they were when first inked into place.

In this series Simon Evans, with the help of Undercover Economist, Tim Harford will advance through the modern industrial era using three great beacons as their guide - Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes - and reflect on how they continue to shape our world today.

After three episodes focusing on the lives and theories of Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes, it's time for Simon and Tim to attempt synthesis and see how these three economic superbrains can help us out of our current economic predicament.

Presenters: Simon Evans and Tim Harford

Writers: Simon Evans, Tim Harford, Dan Evans and Robert Ledger

Producer: Richard Morris

Simon Evans points a jokenomics lens at the Big Beasts of economic theory

After three episodes focusing on the lives and theories of Adam Smith, Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes, it's time for Simon Evans and Tim Harford to attempt synthesis and see how these three economic superbrains can help us out of our current economic predicament.

Simon Evans presents a comedy lecture on economics.

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk have had an excellent pandemic. A 2021 Oxfam report found that the world's 10 richest billionaires have collectively seen their wealth grow by $540 billion over the last year. And it's not just the super-rich, it's true that even the less obscenely wealthy have got richer during the pandemic. The price of Aston Martins and other playthings is sure to rise but what does this further bunching of wealth at the top mean for the rest of us?

Simon is joined by Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List to take a look at the lives and influence of the Super Rich.

Written and presented by Simon Evans

Additional material from Dan Evans

Production co-ordinator: Cherlynn Andrew-Wilfred

Producer: Richard Morris

Simon Evans presents a new series of comedy lectures on economics.

Photo credit: Steve Best

Did the collapse in 2020 of the Arcadia Group, Debenhams and Bonmarch退 to name but three signal the final death knell for the British High Street? What will replace it – Coffee Shops, Nail bars and Tattoo Parlours? Charity shops recycling and ever thinner and endlessly diminishing stock of new items, initially bought on line?

Or will new one on one services like personal trainers and Thai Yoga practitioners replace tired rails of fashion wear? Will everywhere become Brighton, basically?

Perhaps Hot-Shops, where everyone has a shop for a day, or a week, at a time, to market their goods - much as Harley St surgeons have always found adequate.

Simon investigates whether it is indeed all doom and gloom or if the perhaps a new role still to be played by bricks and mortar shops. If department stores are crashing out then who (apart from the obvious online behemoths like Amazon) could start to cash in?

Written and presented by Simon Evans

Additional material from Dan Evans

Production co-ordinator: Cherlynn Andrew-Wilfred

Producer: Richard Morris

Photo credit: Steve Best

Simon is joined by Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard, for some expert analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought Britain's world-leading performing arts sector to its knees. Even with significant government investment to keep the industry temporarily afloat, will audience behaviours have changed so significantly that the live event experience is never the same again?

Simon Evans is joined by another Simon Evans, the director of the acclaimed lockdown hit 'Staged

Written and presented by Simon Evans

Additional material from Dan Evans

Production co-ordinator: Cherlynn Andrew-Wilfred

Producer: Richard Morris

Photo credit: Steve Best

In this final episode of the current series, Simon looks at how Britain might innovate itself out of the pandemic. He is joined by Professor Lucy Rogers, a former judge on Robot Wars and a self-declared 'inventor with a sense of fun'.

Written and presented by Simon Evans

Additional material from Dan Evans

Production co-ordinator: Cherlynn Andrew-Wilfred

Producer: Richard Morris

Photo credit: Steve Best