The world's major consulting firms make an estimated trillion dollars a year, directing governments and businesses on how best to govern.

But the economist Mariana Mazzucato argues that outsourcing the brain power of governments to private firms is a dangerous trend.

Ed Butler asks her why she thinks it isn't money well spent.

(Picture: Mariana Mazzucato. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

The idea of settling for ‘good enough’ and being mediocre at work is not new… but the case for prioritising other things apart from work has grown rapidly since the pandemic – and hashtags like #lazygirljob have been getting millions of views on TikTok.

We find out what mediocrity means for staff and employers, and speak to workers who are embracing this new attitude.

We hear from Jaime Ducharme, Time Magazine journalist who wrote an article about mediocrity in the workplace, Gabrielle Judge who started #lazygirljob on TikTok, and Dr Thomas Curran from the London School of Economics.

Produced and presented by Clare Williamson

(Image: A woman looking bored at work. Credit: Getty Images)

Work from home, or go into the office? For many businesses and workers it's an ongoing conversation at the moment.

But could there be a third way - working 'near' home?

New co-working spaces are providing a place for people to do their job close to where they live, but not at home which can be unsuitable and isolating.

We also look at the WeWork model - the billion-dollar business filed for bankruptcy protection in the US last year - does that mean the concept isn't viable long term?

Produced and presented by Dougal Shaw.

(Image: A Patch co-working space in southern England. Credit: Benoit Grogan-Avignon)

We look at the implications as the Latin American country gradually reduces from 45 hours.

In April 2023 politicians approved a law in congress saying that businesses need to move towards cutting their hours to help get a better work life balance for employees.

This reduction is happening gradually, and the working week is getting shorter by at least one hour per year, over a maximum of five years.

We speak to workers and businesses in Chile about the impact - good and bad - that this is having.

Presenter: Jane Chambers Technical production: Matthew Dempsey

(Image: A group of workers on lunchbreak in Santiago. Credit: Getty Images)

It's been 50 years since Sweden introduced state-funded parental leave, designed for couples to share.

We hear how the pioneering policy has impacted families and businesses - and ask whether Sweden really deserves its reputation for gender equality.

And we meet one of the first dads to take paid parental leave, back in the 1970s.

Produced and presented by Maddy Savage

(Image: A man holding a small child. Credit: Getty Images)

Today, the richest 10 per cent of the world’s population own more than three quarters of its wealth, while the bottom half have 2%.

To halt the growing wealth gap, one economic philosopher, Ingrid Robeyns, has come up with a striking proposal - to impose legally enforced limits on people’s personal wealth. No one individual, Professor Robeyns suggests, should be allowed to have more than 10 million dollars.

It's a provocative idea. And would it work in practice?

(Picture: Ingrid Robeyns. Credit: Keke Keukelaar/United Agents)

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

The Russian invasion sparked the worst recession in the country’s recent history. Yet 2023 saw growth which is projected to continue. So how are businesses actually faring?

The economy is heavily reliant on foreign aid and there is uncertainty whether that will continue, notably from the US.

We hear from businesses and workers who give us a mixed picture of Ukraine's economic health: Chef Zhenya Mykhailenko the CEO of FVSM which runs a group of Ramen restaurants in Kyiv and a military kitchen in the Zaporizhiya region; Kees Huizinga who farms in Uman, South of Kyiv and Erica, a secondary school teacher in the war torn southern city of Kherson. Plus economic analysis from Andrew Walker.

Produced and presented by Clare Williamson

(Image: Chef Zhenya. Credit: FVSM)

The Olympics in Tokyo, some jaw dropping films, and a hardwired desire to be in the great outdoors. These are just some of the reasons credited with boosting the popularity of climbing. Hundreds of indoor bouldering gyms have cropped up in the US since the 1990s, and the sport is spreading across the world.

Although still concentrated in North America and Europe, more and more countries are joining the International Federation of Sport Climbing, and the millions of people taking part are attracting the attention of brands and financial backers. We hear from climbing business experts and the UK’s most successful competitive climber, Shauna Coxsey, to find out more.

(Picture: Shauna Coxey. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Hannah Bewley

The Philippines is experiencing an artificial coin shortage.

It’s artificial because there are plenty of coins - it’s just that people are using them less so they fall out of circulation and end up collecting in jars at home.

Hannah Mullane investigates why this is happening and what impact it’s having on consumer behaviour. And reporter Camille Elemia speaks to businesses and shoppers in Quezon city to find out how Filipino’s are changing the way they spend.

(Picture: A jeepney driver, counting some notes)

Presented and produced by Hannah Mullane Additional reporting: Camille Elemia

Three months ago, Houthi fighters from Yemen hijacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea and took the crew captive. It was the group’s first attack on commercial shipping in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Around 30 similar assaults have followed and the US and UK have retaliated with air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

The Houthi attacks have wreaked havoc with shipping in the Red Sea, forcing hundreds of ships to re-route and make the much longer journey around the bottom of Africa. Supply chains have been interrupted and insurance costs have risen for vessels still passing through the area.

With no end to the tension in the region in sight, some companies are readjusting their timelines and accepting that the current situation might become the “new normal”. We ask whether the Houthi attacks have changed the way we move goods around the world for ever.

(Picture: Ships crossing the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea. Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

Tony Fernandes has worked in the music industry, owned a formula one team and co-owned a professional London football club, but these days he’s concentrating on his core business as the CEO of the parent company of AirAsia, a Malaysia-based budget airline he co-founded that has transformed travel in South East Asia.

We speak to him about his varied career, the airline industry’s recovery from the Covid pandemic, and the recent safety issues at Boeing.

(Picture: Tony Fernandes. Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

Only four sportspeople have turned success on the field to success in business, making it to the 10 figure club.

Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Magic Johnson, the last to join in October 2023, according to the wealth-tracking business magazine, Forbes.

Matt Lines finds out the secrets behind the fortunes of these four athletes and who could be joining the list in future.

(Picture: L-R: Tiger Woods. Credit: Reinhold Matay/USA Today Sports. Magic Johnson. Credit: Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock. Lebron James. Credit: Dale Zanine/USA Today Sports. Michael Jordan. Credit: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

Presenter/producer: Matt Lines