Podcasts

The world's rich and powerful have descended on Davos for the World Economic Forum - the 1%'s annual pilgrimage to the temple of globalisation. But, this year, a sense of unease will almost certainly shadow any worship at the altar, with the liberal world order having had not one but two slaps to the face from Brexit and then Trump. So, what exactly makes the global elite, well, elite? And what do they get up to behind closed doors? To find out, Share Radio's Alex Clark spoke to Daniel Levin, author of 'Nothing but a Circus: Misadventures among the Powerful'.

Share Radio's Simon Rose is joined in the studio by Tim Evens, Professor of Political Economy at Middlesex University, for The Bigger Picture, a look at the deeper meaning behind the week's headlines. On today's programme: what were the strategies and tactics behind Theresa May's Brexit speech? Is there any truth to post-truth? And how Romania's corruption fight is a smokescreen for weakening its democracy.

Public finance is on "an unsustainable path" according to data. The Office for Budget Responsibility, or OBR, has claimed that Chancellor Philip Hammond is likely to find it impossible to balance the books in the coming years without cutting spending or raising taxes. The Chancellor said in his Autumn Statement he expected the deficit to be 2 percent of GDP by 2020, revised down from previous chancellor George Osborne's plans to have a budget surplus by the end of next parliament. But the OBR says that public sector debt could go from being 82 percent of GDP now to a staggering 234 percent over the next fourty years. It blamed the increased spending on the NHS and state pensions in particular. To understand what this means for the UK, Share Radio's Matt Cox spoke to Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce.

A freight train has arrived in Barking, in East London, all the way from China. And its carrying 4 million pounds worth of socks Share Radio's James Brydges has been finding out more.

24 hours have passed since Theresa May delivered her much anticipated speech on Brexit, pinning down her negotiating priorities after weeks of speculation. The Prime Minister told a crowded hall that Britain "cannot possibly" remain within the single market, arguing that a "half in, half out" approach to Brexit is no exit at all. She also confirmed that Parliament WILL have a vote on the final Brexit deal. For reaction to Theresa May's Brexit speech, Share Radio's Simon Rose was joined one by Tom Brake MP, the Liberal Democrat's spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, and Roger Godsiff, MP for Birmingham Hall Green and member of Labour Leave - a group of Labour MPs who campaigned for Brexit.

Shares in Pearson have fallen by almost 30% after the international publisher warned of a big fall in its US education business. Profits for 2017 could drop by £60m and it could cut its dividend for shareholders. What now for the ? Join Share Radio's Simon Rose as he investigates this and what else has been happening in the bourses and businesses of Britain and the world. To put the day's events in context, he's joined by Russ Mould, Investment Direct at AJ Bell.

Investors often ask if they're getting good value for their money - but what should they look out for in companies from a legal point of view? Jonathan Deverill, Partner in the Corporate department at DAC Beachcroft, spoke with Share Radio's Simon Rose to cover the key issues.

The FTSE 100 has been hitting record highs since the start of 2017 with a weaker pound boosting the UK's main stock index. But what effect has a weak sterling had on the small cap's market? David Thornton, editor of the Growth Company Investor, joined Share Radio's Simon Rose for more on this subject.

Globalisation's defenders took to the stage on day two of the Davos World Economic Forum. US vice president, Joe Biden called for the US and Europe to fight for democracy and reject isolationism, while Chinese president Xi Jinping says the world's problems aren't the fault of global trade. Share Radio's Steve Clarke reports live from Davos. Here he spoke to Share Radio's senior analyst Ed Bowsher.

President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, welcomed the additional clarity brought by Theresa May's Brexit speech - but other European figures weren't as positive, upset by May's threats to create a Singapore-style Britain if a good Brexit deal isn't forthcoming. Pieter Cleppe, head of Open Europe's Brussels Office, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to discuss the issue.