Podcasts related to Economics

Is Britain’s favourite treat under threat? Chocolate makers and cocoa traders are having a tough year, thanks to a perfect storm of bad weather and foreign exchange fluctuations. It has led to a rapid price increase for those Easter eggs we all adore. Robert Van Egghen spoke to Jonathan Parkman, co-head of agricultural commodities at Marex Spectron, about the concerns within the cocoa market.

It seems Apple Pay will soon have a competitor, as a contactless mobile pay system is due to be released for Android phone users. Credit card provider, MBNA, has announced it will be on board and its Director, Mark Elliott, joined Sarah Lowther and Chris Bailey to explain what Android Pay will allow people to do, the rise of contactless mobile systems and why MBNA is on board.

On the day of a Westminster conference on the future of apprenticeships. Lambeth College Principal, Mark Silverman, explains the partnership between construction group, Carillion, and his college. It has been argued that colleges and industry should be working closer together and this new venture is an example of how that theory is trying to be changed.

Greece is a frontline state in the battle to control the influx of migrants, it’s got a widening current account deficit and its struggling to meet its bailout conditions. So you might say doing good business or investing in Greece might seem impossible, but Panos Manuelides of Odysea Foods does just that and he discusses the country’s struggles. But is every area struggling?

Oz katerji, a journalist based in Turkey and Lesbos project Coordinator for Help Refugees, joins Ed Mitchell of Investment Perspectives for analysis on the European Migration scheme, which will see refugees and migrants being sent back to Turkey to prevent them from coming to islands such as Lesbos. which is set to begin today.

April marks the first anniversary of the Nepalese earthquake, which killed over eight thousand people and injured more than twenty one thousand others. After the disaster the International Monetary Fund told the Nepalese authorities they would have to pay back the $3.5 billion of debt the country owes to its creditors. The IMF said the money can't be written off because Nepal doesn't qualify for relief from a special fund for countries hit by natural disasters. That decision outraged anti debt campaigners who claim that wealthy states are often responsible for the financial problems of poorer countries. For example Mozambique's debt, which is priced in currencies like the Dollar, has ballooned because of the weak exchange rate, forcing the government to use 13% of its revenue to pay back what it owes. So is it time for the creditors to ease up on the indebted? Tim Jones, of the "Jubilee Debt Campaign", joins Juliette Foster in the studio along with Professor John Weeks, Share Radio's regular economics commentator.

A third of people aged over 50, who are employed in the private sector, are now planning to retire later than they previously hoped. Aviva's latest Working Lives report reveals that they'll work eight years longer than hoped. Alistair McQueen, Pension Policy Manager at Aviva, joins Share Radio to discuss the findings.

Conversations From Africa: Chris Bishop, Managing Editor of Forbes Africa Magazine joins Share Radio's Patrick Jones for more news from the continent in our weekly segment dedicated to all things African. This week he discusses more woes for the South African economy with talks of a downgrade to junk status, 'Guptagate', the huge mining court-case 'Once empowered always empowered' and more.

A new report from CDP, analysing 15 of the world's largest automakers, shows that Volkswagen is not the only car maker facing significant potential penalties as regulation on fleet emissions tightens around the world. Paul Simpson, the CEO of CDP, joined Sarah Lowther and Paul Sedgwick to discuss further the report he authored.

Transport for London has approved a new plan to "modernise and improve" London's private hire industry, but it's seen to some as a crackdown on Uber's growth. So are regulators taking aim at disruptive companies to protect the "old guard", or is this another step in integrating innovation into the UK? Matt Cox spoke to tech consultant and analyst, Chris Green, to find out how he sees the situation.