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In the Balance

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In the Balance: Stacks of Cash

Factual

24/03/2012

Stacks of Cash

BBC World Service - In the Balance, Stacks of Cash

Is it time that companies were persuaded to spend?

It's estimated that in the US alone, companies are sitting on a collective pile of $1.7 trillion in cash. Is it time that governments persuaded them to spend it?

Is it time that companies were persuaded to spend? 

This week we learned just how big Apple's stockpile of cash really is - more than $97billion.  

And it's estimated that in the US alone, companies are sitting on a collective pile of $1.7 trillion in cash.  

Governments want them to spend - but will they? 

Or does the economic downturn in the West mean many will continue to hoard?

We also ask whether there is a "Great Levelling" going on in the global economy; developing countries are growing while the North Atlantic stands still.  

To discuss the issues Justin Rowlatt is joined by the senior Africa economist at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan; Kate Robertson who is the chair of the UK Group of Euro RSCG companies, one of Europe's biggest advertising groups. 

And from Geneva Caroline Kende-Robb, who is the Executive Director of the Africa Progress Panel.

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