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Things That Made the Modern Economy

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Inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world

Tim Harford introduces inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world

50 Things That Made the Modern Economy: Series 1

Things That Made the Modern Economy: Series 1: Leaded Petrol

Leaded Petrol

02/10/2017

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 - Things That Made the Modern Economy, Series 1, Leaded Petrol

When lead was added to petrol, it made cars more powerful - but it also poisoned people.

When lead was added to petrol it made cars more powerful and was, its advocates said, a 'gift'. But lead is a gift which poisons people; something known as long ago as Roman times.

In the 1920s lead was added to petrol. It made cars more powerful and was, according to its advocates, a "gift". But lead is a gift which poisons people; something figured out as long ago as Roman times. There's some evidence that as countries get richer, they tend initially to get dirtier and later clean up. Economists call this the "environmental Kuznets curve". It took the United States until the 1970s to tax lead in petrol, then finally ban it, as the country moved down the far side of the environmental Kuznets curve. But as Tim Harford explains in this astonishing story, the consequences of the Kuznets curve aren't always only economic. 

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Ben Crighton.

Things That Made the Modern Economy: Series 1

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Inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world.

Tim Harford introduces inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world.

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Things That Made the Modern Economy

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Leaded Petrol

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