Politics
The Reith Lectures: Brain Food Vol. 1
The 2012 Reith Lectures are presented by the economic historian Prof Niall Ferguson. Here's some links to further reading on some of Prof Ferguson's references, as well as links to other BBC programmes exploring some of the issues raised in Prof Ferguson's first lecture, The Human Hive.
BBC Radio 4 - The Reith LecturesSignificant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series- "Nature is a thynge of great myghte and efficacye, but surely institution or bringynge up, is moche myghtier."
Prof Ferguson opened his lecture quoting Richard Taverner - best known for his translation of the Bible, he was a writer who played a significant role in the English Reformation. - Richard Taverner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaRichard Taverner (c. 1505 - 14 July 1575) is best known for his Bible translation, The Most Sacred Bible whiche is the holy scripture, co...
- Early in the lecture Prof Ferguson explores why it is some countries succeed and others fail - or remain 'stationary states', as the father of modern economics Adam Smith put it, where population growth and capital accumulation are zero.
Niall cites the work of economists Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson, whose recent book 'Why Nations Fail' explores the issue of financial malaise. Here's a feature they recent had published in Foreign Policy magazine: 
10 Reasons Countries Fall Apart - By Daron Acemoglu, James A. RobinsonSome countries fail spectacularly, with a total collapse of all state institutions, as in Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal and the...- MIT economist Daron Acemoglu was recently interviewed on Business Daily on the BBC World Service, too.
- BBC - BBC World Service Programmes - Business Daily, Hindsight is a wonderful thingSynopsis The former head of the mighty German Bundesbank tells Justin Rowlatt why Greece should never have been allowed into the euro, ho...
BBC - Podcasts - Business DailyExamining the big issues facing the global economy, Business Daily demystifies the world of money. From giant industries like aviation an...- Niall Ferguson also gave a nod to the development economist Paul Collier - he recently featured in an edition of Radio 4's Analysis, which asked whether a more open immigration policy might be a better way for the UK to help developing countries.
BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Analysis, Aid or Immigration?Synopsis Despite a general policy of austerity and cut backs, the budget for development aid has been ring fenced by the coalition govern...
BBC - Podcasts - AnalysisAnalysis makes sense of the ideas that change the world. What made Islam political, whether the Government can make us go green, why we t...- Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto also got a few mentions in the lecture - his work addresses the informal economy and the importance of business and property rights. Back in 2010, Radio 4's Crossing Continents asked whether his ideas could 'save' Peru.
BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Crossing Continents, Can an economist save Peru?Synopsis The world famous Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto believes that the key to ending poverty for countless millions is to give t...
BBC - Podcasts - Crossing ContinentsOn the ground reporting from around the world which focuses on the human dimension of the big international stories.- The Glorious Revolution ultimately established supremacy of parliament over the British monarchy - and is a key event in the case put forward in Niall Ferguson's lecture. Here's a quick lesson from BBC History:
BBC - History - British History in depth: The Glorious RevolutionFear of Catholic tyranny The Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 replaced the reigning king, James II, with the joint monarchy of his protes...Niall Ferguson's first lecture is titled The Human Hive - inspired by the poem The Fable of the Bees by 18th Century satirist Bernard Mandeville. The poem suggests many key principles of economic though - read it here:
- The Fable of the Bees - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe Fable of The Bees: or, Private Vices, Public Benefits is a book by Bernard Mandeville, consisting of the poem The Grumbling Hive: or,...
- Out of control government debt is a key issue discussed in the lecture. The IMF predicts by the end of 2012 Greece's gross govt debt as % of GDP will be 153%; Italy 123%; USA 107%; UK 88%; Germany 79% and China 22%. The IMF estimates Japan’s gross government debt will be 236% of GDP by the end of the year, triple what is was 20 years ago. You can find out more in the IMF's World Economic Outlook report:
IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO) - Growth Resuming, Dangers Remain, April 2012 -- Table of ContentsIMF World Economic Outlook (WEO), September 2011 -- table of Contents- BBC correspondent Allan Little's award-winning series Europe's Choice charts the key moments and issues that brought the EU to its current crisis.
BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Europe's ChoiceAllan Little looks at key moments and issues that brought the EU to the current crisis"Now often these debts get discussed as if they themselves are the problem," says Prof Ferguson, "and the result is a rather sterile argument between proponents of ‘austerity’ and ‘stimulus’".
Have a listen to Radio 4's Keynes vs Hayek debate, and see if you think it's dull, or not - chaired by Newsnight's Paul Mason, the panel features Lord Robert Skidelsky and Prof George Selgin.
BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Keynes Vs. HayekSynopsis What caused the financial mess we're in? And how do we get out of it? Two of the great economic thinkers of the 20th century had...
- Ben TooneFound this very informative - great way to accompany the lecture with 'further reading'* links. *or rather listening #BBC Reith2012-06-25T16:37:27.873Z
