In Edible Economics, Ha-Joon Chang is inspired by his passion for food to reflect on why economics matters - or, as he puts it, “a hungry economist explains the world”.

Over five episodes he zooms in on garlic, bananas, okra, rye and chocolate, using the histories behind familiar foods - where they come from, how they are cooked and consumed, what they mean to different cultures - to explore economic theories. Witty and thought-provoking, Professor Chang sets out to challenge ideas about the free-market economy which he believes have been too easily accepted for decades.

Today - the banana. We hear about Elvis Presley’s favourite sandwich (banana and peanut butter), and about the banana companies that came to dominate Central and South America in the 19th century.

“These days many people in the United States and other rich nations know the term “banana republic” only as a clothing brand. But it was originally invented to describe the dark reality of near-absolute domination of poor developing nations by large corporations from rich countries. The choice of clothing brand name is at best ignorant and at worst offensive…”

Ha-Joon Chang reflects on the dominance of multinational companies today, and how they can be controlled by public policies to become a force for good.

Professor Ha-Joon Chang teaches economics at SOAS University of London, and is one of the world's leading economists. His books include Economics: The User's Guide, Bad Samaritans and 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism.

Reader Arthur Lee is a British actor of Korean descent who made his international debut on HBO Cinemax’s Strike Back in 2015 and who recently appeared in Doctor Who. Arthur grew up mostly in London, but also spent several years in South Korea advancing his knowledge of Korean language and culture.

Abridged and produced by Elizabeth Burke
Executive Producer: Jo Rowntree
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4 Show less