Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Analysis

Factual: Politics

Programme examining the ideas and forces which shape public policy in Britain and abroad.

Programme examining the ideas and forces which shape public policy in Britain and abroad, presented by distinguished writers, journalists and academics.

BBC Radio 4 FM

Analysis: What Is Money?

Factual

What Is Money?

26/03/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Analysis, What Is Money?

Frances Stonor Saunders asks a fundamental question - what is money?

Is the value of money determined by anything more than our willingness to believe in it? Frances Stonor Saunders tries to understand the fundamentals.

We dream about it, argue about it, worry about it, celebrate it, spend it, save it, we transfer it from one emotion to another. But what exactly is money? And why do we trust it? Frances Stonor Saunders takes a journey through some of the fundamentals of money.
During her journey she dips her toe into the world of quantitative easing. How is that money invented? Is it as real as the pieces of paper in our wallets? And she explores some of the reasons for the calls to return to a gold standard. Essentially, she tries to gain a better understanding of what this stuff which we call money is really about; how and why do we maintain our faith in it, or has it just become too complicated?

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Analysis

What Is Money?

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4