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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.

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Analysis: Thrifty Debtors

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Thrifty Debtors

21/07/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Analysis, Thrifty Debtors

Has the downturn has made us thriftier, or are we stuck with high personal debt?

The downturn has made everyone worry more about money. But while we may want to be thriftier, Chris Bowlby discovers why we are stuck with high personal and household debt.

The downturn's made everyone worry more about money. But while we may want to be thriftier, Chris Bowlby discovers why we're stuck with high levels of personal and household debt. Credit has become a way of life and new technology makes it ever more accessible. We know we ought to save more for, say, old age, but pensions seem distant and a dodgy investment, while the government and others are desperate to encourage revived consumer spending . Borrowing to buy houses seems to many the best financial bet. Is there an alternative approach out there?

A wide range of voices from different communities explore the mixture of hard financial fact, psychology and morality that's shaped our financial behaviour in such a turbulent few years.

Producer: Chris Bowlby
Editor: Hugh Levinson.

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