Podcasts related to Economics

The South African economy is "in crisis" according to the country's finance minister. Speaking ahead of this week's Budget Speech, Pravin Gordhan admitted the country was struggling with a difficult set of economic circumstances. Share Radio's Robert Van Egghen reports on an embattled economy where the threat of a downgrade to junk status looms on the horizon.

This Friday the people of Ireland will head to the polls to choose their next government. Sinn Fein, for decades known as the political wing of the IRA, is rising in the polls with its anti-austerity campaign. The party could even become the official opposition. Share Radio's Robert Van Egghen reports on a country divided by austerity and an unequal economic recovery.

This is Share Daily, a look back at some highlights from Share Radio over the last 24 hours. It's your opportunity to catch up with the best of Share Radio , where we bring you news and views on stocks and shares, talk to successful entrepreneurs and offer advice which could make and saves you money. In today's programme, Glenn Thompsett looks at the Enterprise Investment Scheme, personal data and smartphones, and how negative interest rates affect the insurance industry.

The London Stock Exchange yesterday confirmed it was in detailed discussions with its German rival about an all-share merger. The exchanges have considered combining forces before. They agreed to merge in 2000 before a rival bid for the LSE from Sweden’s OM Gruppen scuppered the deal. The LSE then rejected a formal £1.3bn offer from Deutsche Börse in January 2005. So will it be third time lucky? Jasper Lawler, Market Analyst at CMC Markets, joins to discuss.

Simon Smith, Director and Head of Research at FX Pro, joins Share Radio to talk about the latest in the foreign exchange market. Sterling is still at lows against the dollar, so what is causing this? Simon also looks at safe havens, which are soaring, and discusses China ahead of the G20 Summit. Also, can you spot Simon's five hidden Bob Marley song references.

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.

Not so long ago Brazil was THE star performer in the emerging market galaxy thanks to global demand for its commodity resources. In 2005 commodity exports totalled $118 billion - seven years later they more than doubled to $256 billion. However a weak global economy and falling Chinese growth has marked the end of the dance for Brazil. With a credit rating below junk status and GDP tipped to shrink by as much as 4% this year, Brazil is now the sick man of the G20. As President Dilma Roussef battles to hold the country together, her own grip on power is looking increasingly fragile as she leads a government ripped apart by scandal and lost credibility. Where does Brazil go from here? Professor Alfredo Saad Filho of London University, and Share Radio's regular economics commentator Professor John Weeks joined Juliette Foster in the studio to discuss the issues further.

This year's National Farmers Union conference in Birmingham begins and Phil Bicknell, Head of Food & Farming at the NFU, joins Sarah Lowther and the Financial Orbit's Chris Bailey live from the conference to discuss this year’s event, the future of agriculture and the political challenges posed both within the UK and EU.

Jack Sommers, Assistant News Editor for the Huffington Post UK, discusses the Brexit debate, David Cameron's reaction to Boris Johnson after the Mayor of London announced he wanted to leave the EU, and what this all means for Jeremy Corbyn.

Share Radio's Robert Van Egghen joins Managing Editor of Forbes Africa Magazine, Chris Bishop, to discuss the latest events in politics and business in the continent. This week: It's crunch time for South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan as he prepares to deliver Wednesday's budget speech, regarded as the country's last chance to avoid junk status An unexpected rally in the rand More arguments in the South African Parliament as the Democratic Alliance Chief Whip is thrown out Why a plane was detained in Zimbabwe with two officials from the South African reserve banks, millions of rand and a dead body