Share Sounds presented by Juliette Foster related to Economics - UK

The House of Lords will consider a series of amendments to the government's controversial Trade Union Bill when it goes before peers on Wednesday. Condemned by critics as "undemocratic", the bill would only allow workers to go on strike if more than 50% of them voted for industrial action. Employers would also have the authority to hire agency staff to cover the jobs of workers who go on strike. However the greatest outrage has arisen from proposals to change the way that union members pay their dues, which according to Labour, could lose the party up to £8 million a year. Joining Investment Perspectives host Juliette Foster for more analysis of that story is Matt Wrack, Head of the Fire Brigades Union, and Professor John Weeks, Share Radio's regular economics commentator.

Next week the Chancellor George Osborne will unveil his spring budget to the House of Commons as speculation grows over whether he's likely to make any cutbacks or if he's course to pay down the nation's debts. Mr Osborne is saying nothing although he's dropped plans to end or alter tax relief on pension contributions in a move which campaigners believe is a missed opportunity to help the low paid. Yet regardless of what the Chancellor does on Wednesday, his calculations will have been influenced by an econimic model that critics claim is flawed and past its sell by date. Neo-classical economics may be Treasury's guding light, but has it done more harm than good? Is it time to look at the alternatives? Juliette Foster was joined in the studio by Professor John Weeks, Share Radio's regular economics commentator, and Professor Steve Keen of Kingston University London. Steve is also the author of the best-selling book "Debunking Economics".

A few weeks ago, Investment Perspectives spoke to the former investment banker and Conservative Party politican Howard Flight about the Enterprise Investment Scheme, otherwise known as EIS, with regards to how entrepreneurs are using it to grow their businesses. We return to the subject as Juliette is joined in the studio by David Mott, Managing Partner of Oxford Capital Partners, and Eren Ozagir, founder and CEO of the online GP appointment service "Push Doctor”, which allows you to see your doctor digitally from your phone or laptop. For more information, check out www.PushDoctor.co.uk.

Its time again for a look at the intersection of politics and economics, with our regular economic commentator John Weeks. Joining him, is Geoff Tilley, Senior Economist at TUC, and they unpack the CBI’s criticism of Osborne’s performance since the Autumn Statement.

Anyone running a small or medium sized company is likely to face numerous challenges as they grow their business and raising money is one of the toughest. If the banks or even family members can't or won't lend the readies, then what are the alternatives? One possible option is to raise the finance through the Enterprise Investment Scheme...also known as EIS. Well one person with a first hand knowledge of EIS and how it works is Lord Howard Flight, the former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury who now joins us in the studio.

John Sands, Qlik Evangelist and Dr Pablo Calderon Martine, Teaching Fellow in European Studies at King's College London, discuss 'How European Are You?' - a new app using data compiled by Qlik to provide an insight into life across the continent

Donald MacRae,Chief Economist at Bank of Scotland, discusses the Scottish economy one year on from the independence referendum

Geoff Hobbs, Head of Planning at TFL, discusses Crossrail, fares and how to plan the transport system for one of the biggest cities in the world