How will soaring energy costs affect UK corporations? Prices are spiking, not least because of the war in Ukraine. Energy is essential for everything from heating offices to transportation to manufacturing, so what happens when it just becomes too expensive? Evan Davis and guests discuss the current energy crisis and ask how long is it likely to last and what we can do to reduce the vulnerability of our businesses. GUESTS Michael Lewis, Eon Energy Natalie Quail, Founder Smiletime Tina McKenzie, Federation of Small Businesses Gareth Stace, UK Steel Producer: Lucinda Borrell Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill Sound: Neil Churchill and Rod Farquhar Editor: Hugh Levinson The programme was produced in partnership with the Open University.

Evan Davis and guests examine the prospects for business in this government priority for increasing economic activity beyond the Southeast of England. How important is political devolution? Or are practical changes, like transport links and skills education more significant? Guests: Andrew Carter, chief executive, Centre for Cities Akash Paun, senior fellow at the Institute for Government Steve Cole, maritime business improvement director for BAE Systems Lucy Winskell, chair of the North-East Enterprise partnership Producer: Lucinda Borrell Sound: Graham Puddifoot Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill Editor: Hugh Levinson The programme was produced in partnership with the Open University

How will shifts in China's economic policies affect global commerce? The nation is the world's second-biggest economy and it's been the centre of globalised manufacturing for over three decades. But after a global pandemic, an energy crisis and now war in Ukraine, is this going to change? Already, President Xi Jinping has plans to move away from the reliance on global trade towards expanding domestic consumption, alongside targets for encouraging innovation in technology and artificial intelligence. Will recent economic sanctions on Russia due to geopolitics make China retreat more from global trade? What will this mean for us and for the rest of the world? Evan Davis and guests discuss Guests: Hong Bo, professor of financial economics, School of Finance & Management, SOAS University of London Mike Collier, director, China UKTC consultancy Xiaolan Fu, professor of technology and international development: and director, Technology and Management Centre for Development (TMCD), Oxford University Producer: Julie Ball Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed Sound: Nigel Appleton Editor: Hugh Levinson This programme was produced in partnership with the Open University

What will the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine be for the world's economy - and for us? From the effects on the energy markets to the tough sanctions regime, we can already see ripple effects across Europe and the rest of the globe, at a time when the world's economy is still in a febrile post-Covid state. Evan Davis and guests discuss the likely and immediate picture for business, growth and incomes. Guests: Duncan Weldon, economist and author of the Value Added newsletter on Substack. Anna Leach, deputy chief economist at the CBI Chris Rogers, supply chain economist for Flexport Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy Producer: Julie Ball Research: Johnny I'Anson Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed Editor: Hugh Levinson Produced in association with The Open University.

What's behind the explosion in popularity of Klarna and its competitors? Most of us have found ourselves wanting something that we can’t quite afford. If you’re low on funds and waiting for money to come in, there are a multitude of borrowing options, from overdrafts and loans to credit cards. A new option that is expanding fast is the Buy Now Pay Later model, where customers have the option to pay back money for their purchases and there’s no interest charges - provided the debts are cleared on time. But is it too good be true? Join Evan Davis and his panel of experts to get to the bottom of the BNPL industry GUESTS Alex Marsh, Head of Klarna UK Alice Tapper, financial journalist Sameer Pethe, Financial Services Partner, Kearney Producer: Lucinda Borrell Sound: Graham Puddifoot Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed Editor: Hugh Levinson Produced in association with the Open University