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The Thought Show: Ireland’s Shock GDP figures

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shutterstock_100534675 Shannon ireland.jpg

28/07/2016 GMT

Ireland’s Shock GDP figures

BBC World Service - The Thought Show, Ireland’s Shock GDP figures

Why Ireland’s GDP figures showing 26 per cent growth in 2015 are hard to believe

Why Ireland’s GDP figures showing 26 per cent growth in 2015 are hard to believe, also how live streaming platforms in Turkey were used to report on the attempted coup.

Official figures showing that Ireland’s economy grew by 26% in 2015 would make it the fastest growing economy in the world. But American economist Paul Krugman says this is “leprechaun economics” as this growth rate is so unrealistically high. 

Also in the programme, online streaming services like Periscope and Facebook Live were used to show what was happening during the attempted coup in Turkey and are even being credited with changing the course of events. 

And, why are men more violent than women, committing 90% of murders across the world and being more likely to join a gang? Caroline Bayley reports.

(Photo: Riverpoint buildings and Shannon bridge in Limerick, Ireland. Credit: Luis Santos/Shutterstock)

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