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Rethink

<p>Professor Ben Ansell asks some of the world's sharpest minds about the latest thinking, and what it might mean for policy and society.</p>

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The United Nations estimates that nearly half of mankind will live in cities by 2050. And as those cities have grown, the number of people living in slums has also increased. The UN estimates that 1.2 billion people reside in so-called “informal settlements”, mostly in low and middle income countries. But what if you could build brand-new cities, offering economic opportunity for migrants? What if those cities were built by attracting foreign investment and entrepreneurs, and importing "better" laws, making it easier to operate a business and generate wealth? That's the idea behind Charter Cities, the brainchild of the Nobel-prize winning economist Paul Romer. He was inspired by the massive growth of Hong Kong and Shenzhen in China. Both cities raised living standards in just two generations, by adopting market-led reforms. He described it as a global win-win situation. So are these new cities potential utopias of opportunity and innovation? Or are they budding dystopias, where democracy means nothing, and the poor toil at the whim of the ultra-rich?Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Justine Lang Contributors: 
Atossa Araxia Abrahamian, journalist and author of "The Hidden Globe: how wealth hacks the world".
Tom W Bell, law professor and consultant on alternative governance, special economic zones, and open-source law.
Dr Mark Lutter, founder and executive chairman of the Charter Cities Institute.        
Dr Sam Wetherell, Senior Lecturer in the History of Britain and the World at the University of York, and expert in Urban History.

Rethink... the future of cities

The US dollar is the backbone of global trade and held by governments around the world as a safe haven in times of crisis.It's so powerful that countries like Ecuador and Panama have adopted the dollar as their official currency, while Argentina for many years has tried to "dollarize" its economy.But what happens if nations and private institutions were to lose trust in the dollar?How did we get here? Well, after WWII the world order was re-established in part by tying the monetary systems to the value of the dollar, backed by gold. But since 1971 President Nixon cut that link to gold and the entire exchange system has since been tied directly to the dollar itself, its historic success and access to its financial markets.That success gave America what was dubbed an "exorbitant privilege" to print money without fear of inflation and to build up national debt without consequence.It also enables the US to flex its muscles on the international stage by imposing sanctions on countries and cutting off access to their all-important currency. That has led some countries, most notably China, to call for the dollar to be replaced as the world's reserve currency.How difficult would it be to untangle the dollar from global trade, can any other nations offer the same conditions which has allowed the US currency to thrive, and what would happen if the dollar's role was replaced by newer digital currencies which operate outside traditional government control?Presenter: Professor Ben Ansell
Producer: George Dabby
Editor: Damon RoseContributors:
Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times
Barry Eichengreen, Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley
David Shrier, Professor of Practice, AI & Innovation with Imperial College Business School
Stephanie Flanders, Head of Economics and Politics at Bloomberg News
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief of The EconomistMaterial from:
British Pathé, "Bretton Woods Money Pact Signed" (1946)

Rethink... the power of the US dollar

Should we rethink who our city streets are for? It can often feel like there is a hierarchy on the roads, with cars needing to get from A to B as fast as they can, taking priority over people cycling or walking. But what if we flipped it on its head and put pedestrians at the top? Or, what if we saw our streets in a totally new light and instead decided they were places for meeting friends, playing or resting under a tree? Ben Ansell finds the people designing new streets, and he hears one radical idea that requires an entirely new language. Ben visits a new kind of street where pedestrians have priority, not cars. It has been designed by traffic engineer Keith Firth at NRP. Campaigner Martin Cassini argues we could get rid of traffic lights to encourage drivers to pay better attention to pedestrians and to help ease traffic jams. But would all road users feel confident crossing without a dedicated beep or time to cross?  Sohanna Srinivasan, head of Urban Planning Design at North Hertfordshire council, sets out her plan for how streets can have space built-in for people to fully enjoy their neighbourhoods while Dutch author Marco te Brömmelstroet says we need to rethink the language we use about cities. Change the language, change the mind set. Is it that simple? Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Phoebe Keane
Editor: Damon Rose

Rethink... city streets

Have you ever wondered why some people age better than others? We all know someone who looks great for their age, and is also in robust health. And yet someone else who is exactly the same age might look older, and may be living with an age-related illness. Chronological age is not always be a good indicator of how well someone is maturing. So, if our skin - which is our largest organ - suggests how well, or badly, we're aging, then the state of our other organs and the systems that keep them running may also indicate how old we are.This measure is called your biological age. And there are many ways of measuring biological age, from the simple - the strength of your hand grip, to the detailed - looking at the changes in chemical markers attached to your DNA, called epigenetic markers. They lie "on top of" the DNA, without changing it - much like an instruction written on a post-it note attached to a piece of sheet music. The instruction means the music can be expressed differently, without changing the tune. Epigenetics explains why the DNA in every one of our cells is the same, and yet the cells can look very different from one another. They can be heart cells, blood cells, hair cells and so on, because the markers cause different genes on the same DNA to be expressed.  Epigenetics has allowed scientists to create clocks to tell you your biological age: the latest one can even tell you how fast you're aging. Advances in epigenetics have led to the new science of cellular regeneration. And the world's first clinical trials are underway in the USA for a treatment that transforms old, dysfunctional and damaged cells into young healthy ones - treating aging itself.   Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Damon Rose Contributors: 
Andrew Steele PhD, author of Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old. and director of the Longevity Initative
Dr Nessa Carey, molecular biologist, visiting Professor at Imperial College London and author of The Epigenetics Revolution 
Dr Daniel Belsky, Associate Professor of Epidemiology in the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, and developer of the algorithm for the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock
Dr Sharon Rosenzweig-Lipson, Chief Scientific Officer at cellular rejuvenation company Life Biosciences

Rethink... how we age

Of the 195 widely-recognized sovereign countries in the world, only a quarter are monarchies. And of those 43 monarchies, 15 of those have the same King. That’s Charles III, who’s head of state for Commonwealth territories as large as Australia and Canada, and as far apart as the UK and Tuvalu in the South Pacific.  In the other 28, the ruling monarchs can be called Kings, Emirs, Sultans, and there’s an Emperor on the Chrysanthemum throne in Japan.Of course, there are also Queens - but some modern monarchies such as Japan and Lichtenstein still don’t allow female succession. In others, eldest daughters are passed over for their younger brothers - and this still happens in Spain and Monaco.         If this all seems a bit medieval, that's because it is! Monarchy is a system of governance that developed hundreds - or in the case of Japan - more than 1000 years ago, so it can look outdated through a 21st century lens.    But it's enduring, and opinion polls suggest it can be popular. So what does monarchy mean in the modern age? Which royal families are not only surviving, but are expanding their spheres of power and influence, and why the newest "monarchies" in the USA, Russia and China are not even royal at all. Presenter: Professor Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Damon Rose Contributors: 
Dr Craig Prescott, specialist in UK Constitutional Law, Royal Holloway, University of London 
Adam Hanieh, MBI Jaber Chair of Middle East Studies and Professor in the Development Studies Department at SOAS, University of London.  
Stacie Goddard, Betty Freyhof Johnson ’44 Professor of Political Science and Associate Provost, Wellesley College, Massachusetts. 
Abe Newman, Professor and John Powers Chair in International Business Diplomacy, Director, BMW Center for German and European Studies, Georgetown University, Washington DC

Rethink... modern monarchy

As generative AI and Deepfake technology has progressed over the last decade, you could be forgiven for thinking that it's never been more difficult to try to work out what is authentic and what is fake. The search for authenticity is not new. It's a task that's challenged humanity for hundreds of years. Forgers have always tried to pass off copies as great artworks, but it's not always clear when an artist was responsible for an entire painting or farmed out parts of the job to apprentices. A few well-known modern artists outsource all of the construction and manufacture of some of their works to skilled craftsmen and women.  Although the idea is theirs, does that make the final product somehow less than the genuine article?Idiosyncrasies, perceived flaws or personal flourishes are often key indicators that show an image is authentic. We use those same tell-tale signs to judge the authenticity of another type of image: the one that politicians want to portray.How important is it to be a politician who is seen as authentic by voters? How can we measure political authenticity? If someone is carefully crafting their image on social media, how real is it? And even if it is fake, do voters care, if they have been seduced by the illusion? Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editors: Lisa Baxter and Nick HollandContributors: 
Estelle Lovatt, FRSA. Art Critic, Writer and Lecturer. 
Lone Sorensen, Associate Professor of Political Communication, University of Leeds
Nick Clarke, Professor of Political Geography, University of Southampton
Tracy Dennis Tiwary, Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology and Developmental Psychology, at the City University of New York.Rethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University.

Rethink... authenticity

In 2023, ChatGPT took Artificial Intelligence into the mainstream. Now there's a bewildering choice of human-like chatbots to choose from. Generative AIs can produce pictures and video from a text prompt, and many websites and apps are now labelled "Powered by AI". This new technology can do lots of things and tech companies have raised vast amounts of money from investors based on its potential. But what is AI actually for? Certain specialised AIs have a clear purpose. AlphaFold2 can predict how proteins fold-up and won its creators the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, and Google Translate is an AI with a purpose that’s clear from its name.  But so far there is no must-have or "killer" application for the Large Language Models and Generative AIs. The future of AI is equally hazy. Will AI somehow lead to all-purpose "Artificial General Intelligence", autonomous robots or even machine consciousness? Or is this all just the stuff of fantasy and nightmares?Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Lisa BaxterContributors:
Mike Wooldridge, the Ashall Professor of the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Oxford.
Rosalind Picard, Grover M. Hermann Professor of Health Sciences and Technology and director of the Affective Computing Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab.
Ethan Mollick, Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and AI researcher. 
Pip Finkemeyer, author of "One Story" and software designer and researcher.
Tracy Dennis Tiwary, Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology and Developmental Psychology at the City University of New York.Rethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University.

Rethink... the promise of AI

The government has launched the Pride in Place scheme but is it possible to regenerate urban areas without leaving local people out?Most buildings have a certain shelf life before they need renovating. Social norms change and the ways people interact develop as society transforms with time. And local economies can change dramatically with once prosperous industrial areas falling silent, or tourist hot spots left behind by low-cost air travel.
 
But is it possible to do this without being accused of gentrification? Swanky new buildings are introduced attracting people with money, house prices go up, expensive shops and cafes open up and before you know it, local people are priced out of the area.
 
So are there ways to improve urban areas without leaving local residents behind? How much should any regeneration project acknowledge and honour local history? Isn’t attracting new people, with new ideas and new businesses a vital part of any regeneration project?Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Tom Gillett
Editor: Lisa BaxterContributors: 
Dr Eilis Lawlor, Director of the research institute Just Economics.
Patrick Murray, Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs, the Northern Housing Consortium.
Wayne Hemingway, designer.
Martha Grekos, Barrister who specialises in planning and environmental law. 
Paul Chatterton, Professor of Urban Futures in the School of Geography at the University of Leeds.Rethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University.

Rethink... regeneration

People are living longer and delaying life's milestone moments. How does this affect our middle years and should we be paying more attention to people in this phase of their lives?For some, middle age can be a very challenging period in their lives. Today, people are postponing the milestones in life that traditionally signified a change in priorities. People are having children later in life meaning parents in their 40s or even 50s are looking after small children. Jobs for life no longer exist and housing is so expensive that many have no choice but to pay costly rents.
 
All of these phenomena have given rise to the so called “sandwich Generation” – simultaneously looking after children but also elderly parents. Many experience multiple roles- worker, parent, carer, spouse and friend – and juggling the demands of all of those roles can lead to burnout.
 
Academic literature on happiness has until recently suggested that our satisfaction with life as we age is hump shaped. When we're young, we're happy — and then that declines, bottoming out in middle age. As we pass middle age and get older, we get happier again.  But is that still the case? Is mid-life a uniquely unhappy place to be?Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Tom Gillett
Editor: Lisa BaxterContributors:Ben Akers - Co-founder and co-CEO of Talk Club
David Blanchflower - Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire
Jane Green -  Professor of Political Science and British Politics at the University of Oxford 
Andrew G Marshall - Marital therapist, communications trainer and author
Les Mayhew - Professor of statistics at Bayes Business School, City University, London 
Kate Muir - Journalist, author, and documentary filmmakerRethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University.

Rethink...middle age

The Night Times Industries Association says one in four venues have shut down since 2020, and the sector will face an irreversible decline unless the government provides urgent support.The industry was one of the worst hit during the pandemic, and it's asking for cuts to National Insurance, a permanent cut in VAT and a reform of business rates to help it keep afloat. The NTIA claims the night time economy contributes more than £153 billion to the UK economy and supports over 2 million jobs.  Culturally, the sector punches above its weight. The nightclub boom in the last 50 years gave us disco, acid house, drum and bass and grime, as well as many other sub-genres of music. But nightclubs are expensive and consumers are finding their thrills elsewhere; drink is cheaper from supermarkets, and why search for someone you fancy on the dancefloor when you can use a dating app?And as nightclubs struggle, so do small music venues, where artists like Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys Blur and Oasis started out, as well as many others. People are willing to pay hundreds of pounds to see those same artists in giant venues like Co-op Live in Manchester or at Wembley Stadium, so what can be done to make sure the next wave of new artists have somewhere to play? Should the government intervene? Should big venues subsidise smaller ones, or is it up to fans to throw them a lifeline? Or has nightlife in its current form - much like variety music halls - taken its last curtain call? Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Tom Gillett 
Editor: Lisa Baxter Contributors:Michael Kill - CEO, Night Time Industries Association
Fat Tony - DJ
Steve Lamacq - BBC 6 Music DJ and Patron of the Music Venues Trust
Richard Simm - Co-owner, The Forum Tunbridge Wells
Jane Darougar - Psychotherapist and counselor at the Central St Martins University, London

Rethink... nightlife

Do you agree with either of these statements? Illegal migrants come here and are a burden on services and the taxpayer. 
OR 
The only way to reduce inequality is to tax billionaires and giant companies who avoid tax.   They may seem on opposite poles of the political spectrum, but both anti-migrant campaigners and anti-capitalists share an identical mindset. Both are demonstrating zero-sum thinking; the belief that if one group wins, another has to lose. In itself, zero-sum thinking isn't moral or immoral, right or wrong. But Economists claim it leads to poor economic policy, and they say evidence shows it is possible to create win-win situations for everyone. But many of the main parties at Westminster also use zero-sum thinking in their political rhetoric - from Reform and the Greens, to the Conservatives and Labour. Also, the first past the post electoral system is literally a zero-sum process. So is this kind of thinking baked-into UK politics? So are there particular groups of people that are more prone to zero-sum beliefs? Where did this mindset come from? What economic conditions encourage zero-sum thinking, and how deeply are these beliefs held? Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Richard VadonContributors:
Stefanie Stantcheva, Nathaniel Ropes Professor of Political Economy at Harvard and founder and director of the Social Economics Lab.
Dr Patricia Andrews Fearon, behavioural science researcher at social impact accelerator The Agency Fund, and Stanford University. Her research on zero-sum mindsets began during her doctoral studies at Cambridge, where she was a Gates Scholar.
Dr Parth Patel, Associate director for democracy & politics at the Institute of Public Policy and Research 
Iain Mansfield, Director of Research and Head of Education and Science at Policy Exchange
Cleo Watson, Former Downing Street strategist, adviser to Theresa May and Boris Johnson, author, and presenter of Radio 4's "How to win a campaign"

Rethink... winners and losers

Aviation is far more difficult to decarbonise than other sectors of the economy, because kerosene is the perfect fuel for planes. It produces enough power to enable planes to fly, yet it is light enough for them to get off the ground and cross the world. Alternatives are thin on the ground; batteries are too heavy, clean hydrogen power is in its infancy, while Sustainable Aviation Fuel - or SAF - is expensive and in short supply. Although the Government has a "SAF-mandate", only 22% of all jet fuel supplied by 2040 will have to be sustainable.  New airliners are more fuel-efficient than ever before, and both routes and air-traffic control are being optimised. But if growth outpaces efficiencies, greenhouse gas emissions will continue to rise. And passenger demand is back at pre-pandemic levels. In 2024 the UK was the third largest market in the world for flights. In the absence of any immediate solution, should we fly less, if at all? How realistic and affordable are slower alternatives like the train? Could passengers be penalised for taking more than one return flight a year? And should the Government rather than individuals be taking responsibility for change? Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Lisa BaxterContributors:
Alice Larkin, Professor of Climate Science and Energy Policy in the School of Engineering at the University of Manchester.  
Dr Roger Tyers, UK Aviation specialist at Transport & Environment
Yannick van den Berg, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Amsterdam Law School 
Tom Nevitt, project manager of Climate Perks
Duncan McCourt, Chief Executive, Sustainable AviationRethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University

Rethink: should we stop flying?

Aviation has a problem: it's reliant on fossil fuels which release greenhouse gases when they're burned in a jet engine. Other industries are worse polluters, but in the next few decades, they are likely to decarbonise much faster than the airline sector. Why? Because kerosene is a light enough fuel for planes to get off the ground, while producing enough thrust for them to do so. Also it enables airliners to carry passengers to the other side of the world. International flight has only been around for less than 100 years, but research suggests that it's responsible for 4% of total global warming to date. It's not just that airliners pump out carbon dioxide, but they also emit nitrous oxides and soot. Even contrails, which are mostly water vapour, have a warming effect high up in the atmosphere. Can efficiencies in jet engines, optimal routes and air traffic control lead to less fuel being used? What technologies are available to make flying cleaner? Is the pace of change fast enough to meet net zero by 2050?Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Lisa Baxter Contributors: 
David Lee, Professor of Atmospheric Science and Director of the Centre for Aviation, Transport and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Dr Mark Bentall, Head of the Research and Technology Programme, Airbus 
Dr Naomi Allen, Head of Research at the Royal Aeronautical Society, 
Alice Larkin, Professor of Climate Science and Energy Policy in the School of Engineering at the University of Manchester. 
Duncan McCourt, Chief Executive, Sustainable AviationRethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University

Rethink: how can flying be less polluting?

What is terrorism? Without doubt, it is a pejorative term; few people would ever want to be called a terrorist, and when the word terrorism is attached to a belief system, it delegitimises it in the eyes of the public.It's an emotive word with severe consequences for any individual or group given the label. Virtually everybody agrees that being a terrorist is not a good thing and that the law must seriously punish them.But there isn't an agreed international definition of what terrorism is.The UK has a legal definition, but it differs from other western democracies. When does property damage become a terror offence? How do police officers decide the difference between support for a cause and membership of a proscribed organisation? Should individuals without an ideology who plan or commit mass murders be considered terrorists? Are UK anti-terror laws too broad, or too narrow? And can violence by states be counted as terrorism?Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Lisa Baxter Contributors: 
José Ángel Gascón, Professor of Argumentation in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Murcia
Jonathan Hall KC, UK Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation  
Nick Aldworth, Threat, risk & security strategist, former Detective Chief Superintendent and National Coordinator in Counter Terrorism Policing. 
Leonie Jackson, Assistant Professor and Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Northumbria University, and author of " What is Counterterrorism For?"
Richard English, Professor of Politics at Queen's University Belfast, and author of Does Counter-Terrorism Work?
 
Rethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University

Rethink...the meaning of terrorism

Two weeks in the sun - it's the classic summer getaway. For many of us, summer holidays are something to look forward to all year.But some of the most popular destinations for British holidaymakers are under strain. Protesters in Barcelona and Majorca have been pushing back at the number of visitors they host - even spraying them with water pistols. Locals are unhappy at being priced out of the housing market and feeling pressure on public services - but they also need tourists to support their economies.At the same time, many destinations are experiencing increasingly hot summers, with sometimes catastrophic results. Two years ago, 20,000 tourists in Rhodes were forced to evacuate their hotels to get away from wildfires. Climate models suggest future summers will be hotter still.So is it time to rethink how we approach the summer holiday? Should we be considering different destinations for our holidays - swapping Mediterranean beaches for northern Europe or British destinations? Would those places be ready for more summer visitors? How can tourist destinations change to meet shifting demands?   Is it time for schools to move away from the long summer break?We'll look at the history of the beach holiday, and try and imagine what summer holidays will look like in the future. And we'll ask - what is a summer holiday for?Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Lucy Burns
Editor: Clare FordhamContributorsSarah Stodola, author of The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit and Peril at the Beach
Simon Calder, travel journalist
Christos Giannakopoulos, research director, the National Observatory of Athens
Rowland Rees-Evans, chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance
Lee Elliot-Major, professor of social mobility at the University of ExeterRethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University

Rethink... summer holidays

President Trump promised "America First" on the campaign trail, and has delivered that in his second term, unleashing a trade war and causing global economic instability.  Although China and the USA have recently agreed a temporary truce in the trade war, the US President regards Beijing as an economic enemy. Perversely, Donald Trump's actions may push other countries into China’s embrace.   For some countries, like Russia, that's a natural fit. Others, like China’s neighbours South Korea and Japan, have agreed to talks about a free-trade agreement, while the EU says it is seeking to "engage constructively" with Beijing.  So where does that leave the UK? Of late, Labour ministers have been on a charm offensive, with the Chancellor, the Foreign Secretary and the Energy Secretary all visiting China, as well as a recent trade delegation. So should the UK be seeking closer ties with China? What are the risks, and is China even interested in us? Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Clare FordhamContributors: 
Todd Hall, Director of the University of Oxford China Centre and Professor of International Relations at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University Of Oxford. 
Yeling Tan, Professor of public policy at the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University and also a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. 
Wang Guan, senior news anchor with The China Media Group and also a founding fellow of the Taihe Institute think tank in Beijing.
Cindy Yu, contributing editor and a columnist at The Times, who also writes the Chinese Whispers substack. Rethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University

Rethink... the UK's relationship with China

The UK government has made growth its key mission. But solving the British productivity puzzle is not a new priority - it’s been on the agenda for successive governments.Getting productivity up is crucial to sustain higher living standards.  The more productive we are, the better off we'll be. But the UK has experienced significantly slower productivity growth than comparable countries since the global financial crisis in 2008 and by some measures, Britain has been going through its worst period for productivity growth since the Napoleonic Era.Britain’s productivity lags that of many of our major trading partners, including France, Germany and the USA and that’s despite British workers spending longer in the office. According to the ONS, the French can work four days and achieve roughly as much as the British do in five.What are the factors behind the UK’s chronically weak productivity growth, what are other countries doing better?How can we increase Britain’s productivity?Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Farhana HaiderContributors:Margaret Heffernan, Professor of Practice in Management at the University of Bath, writer and former CEO.
Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.  
Gareth Davies, Head of the National Audit Office.
Leslie Perlow, Professor of organisational behaviour at the Harvard Business School and founder of the Crafting Your Life special project.Rethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University

Rethink... productivity

Across many countries, civil services, once seen as the backbone of stable governance, are facing growing scrutiny. Long viewed as the impartial and efficient machine of government, the role of civil servants is now being questioned as political polarisation intensifies and trust in traditional institutions declines.In the UK, the United States and other democracies, critics question its effectiveness, arguing that the civil service has become opaque, unwieldy and inefficient, and process is getting in the way of outcomes.The modern British civil service emerged in the 19th century, and was designed to carry out the day-to-day tasks of government in an unbiased and professional manner. However, is a bureaucracy that was created and designed more than a century ago still fit for purpose - or are we witnessing a turning point in its role in modern governance?Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Eleanor Harrison-Dengate
Editor: Clare FordhamContributors:
Gus O’Donnell, former Cabinet Secretary, 2005 - 2011
Jennifer Pahlka, former United States government’s deputy chief technology officer
Aaron Maniam, scholar at the Blavatnik School of Government, and former Singaporean civil servant
Hannah White, Director and CEO of Institute for Government
Joe Hill, Policy Director, ReformRethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University

Rethink...the civil service

For most of this century, the UK has had a housing shortage, but for one section of society, that shortage has become a crisis. Prices have risen so much that people who need social housing are completely locked out of the private renting market, and owning a home for many is only a pipe dream. And when politicians speak about "affordable homes", these are also out of reach for many people. "Affordable" means homes available at 80% of the market rate. Typical social housing rents are much lower- around 30% of the full rate.And this type of home is in very short supply. In 1980, there were around seven million dwellings in the social rent sector, largely owned by councils. Today that's just over four million, the majority of which are owned by housing associations instead. To the average person, the answer seems simple - just build more homes.   And that’s being done, but not enough are being built  - only around 10,000 social homes are constructed each year - far lower than the estimated 90,000 we need every year. So how can we speed up the process to help the million households in England currently sat on council waiting lists?Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik Contributors: 
Anna Minton, Reader in Architecture at the University of East London and author of the book "Big Capital, Who is London For?"
Jasmine Basran, Head of Policy at the homelessness charity Crisis.
Richard Hyde, founder of Thinkhouse.org, an open library of housing research, and chair of Solihull Community Housing.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Graham Kauders, commercial director at EDAROTH, an AtkinsRéalis company.Rethink is a BBC co-production with the Open University

Rethink...social housing

Across the West, the long-established liberal order appears to be struggling to adapt to the economic and social challenges of the 21st century. As a result, traditional politics is being rejected by voters at the ballot box, increasingly usurped by narratives once considered too radical for the mainstream.In Europe, right wing populists and the far-right are in the ascendancy in countries such as France, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. Across the Atlantic, Donald Trump has returned to the White House for a second term. The roots of political liberalism can be traced back to the 18th century, with much of the modern liberal world order emerging out of the end of World War II. But as similar patterns emerge across numerous democracies, could we be witnessing the end of liberalism?Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ben Cooper
Editor: Clare FordhamContributors:
Jon Cruddas, author and former Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham
Edmund Fawcett, political journalist and author
Sarah de Lange, Professor of Political Pluralism at the Department of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam
Catherine de Vries, Professor of Political Science at Bocconi University
Michael Gove, Editor of The Spectator and former Conservative MP for Surrey Heath

Liberalism

You would be forgiven for thinking that inflation, interest rates, GDP and tariffs drive the global economy. But there are a whole set of interconnected underlying systems that work quietly in the background to keep economies running smoothly. It's not just countries that rely on them, but individuals as well. These systems allow workers to get paid, banks to make transfers, and the free-flow of information on the internet. These immaterial systems have a presence in the physical world, from fibre optic cables to the servers that host our data. Building and maintaining this infrastructure, and everything else that makes up modern civilisation requires a constant and reliable supply of raw materials. But in this globalised world, both the underlying systems online and the supply chains in the material world have pinch points - places where if just one thing gets squeezed, then there are immediate and dramatic effects on the economy. And whoever controls those pinch points wields a vast amount of power. In this episode of Rethink, Ben Ansell explores those pinch points, how the USA and China are realising their power, and what this means for the UK. Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik          
Editor: Clare Fordham Contributors:
Henry Farrell, SNF Agora Professor of International Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and co-author of Underground Empire.
Abe Newman, professor in the School of Foreign Service and Government Departments at Georgetown University, and co-author of Underground Empire.
Ed Conway, economics and data editor of Sky News and author of Material World.

Rethink... the global economy

Sir Keir Starmer says that the NHS is well placed for an AI revolution in health care. The Health Secretary Wes Streeting says it could lead to huge advances in health care, from patient passports, which enable doctors to easily access a patient's full medical history, to early intervention - being able to assess a child's risk of disease from birth.  The NHS has a vast pool of information about our health, and unlocking its power is a noble aim: but can everything really be thrown straight into an AI, which will then pump out answers? Inputting it presents a mammoth task; NHS data is in many places, the bits of information are not always compatible, nor are they easily accessible. Also, medical records are hugely sensitive and private, so what safeguards need to be put in place before data researchers and medical tech companies can be given access? What will be the most likely, realistic and achievable benefits of using AI in our healthcare system, and - if the NHS gets this right - what are the potential rewards for patients? Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Clare FordhamContributors: 
Dr Jess Morley, postdoctoral research associate at the Yale Digital Ethics Centre
Professor Andrew Morris, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and Director of HDR UK, the national institute for health data science
Michael Shenouda, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Medical Officer at Open Medical, and board member for the ABHI, The Association of British HealthTech Industries 
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation

Rethink...medical data

In 2024, more than two million crimes went unsolved in England and Wales, with police unable to identify a suspect. That figure has increased by 180,000 since 2022, despite there being 86,000 fewer crimes in the same period. So with detection rates down, and constant financial pressures on the police services across the UK, should crime prevention play a greater role in policing? Targeting preventable crimes and the people most likely to commit them, a process called "focused deterrence" is being trialled at five sites in England. Police services already have better intelligence resources available than in any time in history, and they are also working with care services and other agencies to flag up potential problems.  How could crime prevention be taken further? Would a more academic approach to policing result in knowledge being spread more quickly, and how could police be better prepared for emerging crimes as society and technology change? Ultimately, could it lead to lower crime rates and financial savings, and is there any evidence to suggest it does either?Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ivana Davidovic 
Editor: Clare FordhamContributors: 
Katrin Hohl, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at City University
Alexander Murray, Threat Leadership at the National Crime Agency and the Chair of the Society for Evidence Based Policing 
Alex Sutherland, Professor in Practice Criminology & Public Policy at Oxford University
Dr Rick Muir, Director of the Police Foundation

Rethink... crime prevention

Rethink examines emerging issues in politics, society, economics, technology and the UK's place in the world, and how we might approach them differently. We look at the latest thinking and research and discuss new ideas that might make the world a better place.In this episode, we consider the changing relationship between the public and big tech companies. Big technology companies have given us incredible social media and online services, that came with a price - our data. They used it to target advertising and to learn about our likes and dislikes, and the vast majority of us couldn't have cared less about giving up this information. But Artificial Intelligence products have changed the game, from chatbots that can hold human-like conversations, to Generative AI that can write prose or create a picture from a simple text prompt. And these unthinking machines require endless amounts of data to train them.  Some companies have been quietly changing their terms and conditions to access our social media and messages for AI training. Privacy regulators in the UK have called a halt to this so far, but US consumers don't have that protection. Developers have also been scraping the internet, gathering both free and copyrighted material, and leading to legal actions in both the USA, the EU and the UK. Copyright holders are concerned about a lack of payment or licencing deals, and also that AI imitates their content, putting them out of work. The Government has now launched a consultation to try to balance up the needs of AI and the creative industries. But with some companies refusing to pay for content, creators have a new tool at their disposal - a program that makes stolen pictures poisonous to AI.Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Clare Fordham Contributors: 
Ben Zhao, Neubauer Professor of Computer Science at University of Chicago
Jack Stilgoe, Professor in science and technology studies at University College London, where he researches the governance of emerging technologies
Justine Roberts, CEO and founder of Mumsnet.
Cerys Wyn Davies, Partner at Pinscent Masons solicitors, specialising in IP and Copyright.  
Neil Ross, Associate director of policy for Tech UK

Rethink: is big tech stealing your life?

The UK has many world-leading museums that inspire wonder and fascination in their visitors. Many were originally created to display artefacts from empire or house the collections of their wealthy Victorian founders but recent decades have seen museums finding innovative ways to challenge what a modern museum can be. However, in tough economic times many museums are facing serious challenges. The sector is having to make the case for why museums should receive public money when there’s a lot less to go around. They are also facing criticism about who visits them, who curates them, and what objects they collect and display. What are museums for? Who are they for? And how can they teach us about our past whilst remaining relevant and exciting for today’s visitors? Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Viv Jones
Editor: Clare Fordham
Contributors: 
Sara Wajid, co-CEO of Birmingham Museums Trust
Tony Butler, Director of Derby Museums Trust
Stephen Bush, columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times

Rethink... museums

At the last General Election Britain’s traditional parties of left and right, Labour and the Conservatives, collectively amassed their lowest vote share ever - well under 60%. Three out of seven Brits voted for Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party or one of Britain’s many regional or nationalist parties. Does this result suggest that British politics is now too complicated to be understood by the labels left and right? In Europe, some new parties like the German Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance have been labelled both far left and far right. Many similar parties seem to be having success by suggesting that they’re throwing off old political labels and offering something radically new in their place. Studies say voters struggle to place policies along a left/right spectrum, and many don’t define themselves along left/right lines. So how can we have a shared political sphere if we can’t agree on terms? Are our political labels of left and right outdated? Are they due a rethink?Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Viv Jones
Editor: Clare Fordham
Contributors: 
Sara Hobolt, Sutherland Chair of European Institutions at the London School of Economics and Political Science
Claire Ainsley,  Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal at the Progressive Policy Institute. and previously the Executive Director of Policy to Sir Keir Starmer
Giles Dilnot, Editor of Conservative Home and previously special advisor to James Cleverly at the Foreign Office and Home Office

Rethink… political labels

Rethink considers how we might take a different approach to issues that affect all of us, asking some of the brightest minds what we could do to make the world a better place.This week, we're rethinking energy. The massive rise in the price of wholesale gas in 2022, and the subsequent rise in our household energy bills highlighted the need for the UK to have a secure, reliable and cheap energy supply. So what choices do we have? UK fossil fuel reserves are dwindling, but we have offshore wind, and sunshine in the south.  Renewable power is also cheaper than fossil fuels. In the first three months of 2024, the UK's wind, solar and other forms of renewable power generated just over half of our energy and by the end of September, coal had been phased out completely.But there is still a long way to go before the UK is self-sufficient.   It can take as long as 15 years to connect a renewable power plant to the National Grid. 
A nuclear power station hasn't been completed in the UK for nearly 30 years 
Do we have enough power storage for cloudy or windless days? 
And industry and homes are still reliant on gas. So how to we need to rethink energy to keep the lights on, charge our many devices and power our electric vehicles in the future? And if we get it right, what will be the rewards for everyone? Presenter: Ben Ansell  
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Clare Fordham Contributors:
Aoife Foley, Professor & Chair in Net Zero Infrastructure at the University of Manchester.
Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive, the Climate Change Committee.   
Sam Richards, a former special advisor on energy to Boris Johnson, and now the Chief Executive of campaign group Britain Remade.
Andrew Crossland, Associate Professor in practice at the Durham Energy Institute.

Rethink... energy

The care system in Britain is creaking at the seams. People who need care aren't receiving it - or if they do it's untenably expensive.  There aren’t enough staff for care homes, and unpaid family carers often burn out looking after their loved ones without support.Successive governments have recognised it’s a problem, but they haven’t been able to fix it. Rachel Reeves is just the latest in a long line of chancellors to back away from care reform.How can we reform the care system so it works better for everyone involved? And crucially - how can we pay for it?In this edition of Rethink we look at some of the big ideas that could revolutionise social care in this country. We look at the arguments for a National Care Service to match the National Health Service. We hear about new technological fixes, from robots in care homes to smaller scale initiatives to help with medication or paperwork. Or maybe we all need to think about the whole system differently - and all care for each other a little more.Contributors:
Sir Andrew Dilnot, head of the 2011 government review on Funding of Care & Support
Kathryn Smith, chief executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence 
Ben Cooper from the Fabian Society, co-author of their report Support Guaranteed: The Roadmap to a National Care Service
Hilary Cottam, designer, social activist and author of Radical Help: How We Can Remake the Relationships Between Us and Revolutionise the Welfare StatePresenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Lucy Burns
Editor: Clare Fordham

Rethink...care

Rethink looks at the issues of our time, and considers how we might approach them differently.  Scrutinising the latest thinking and research, we look at what this might mean for policy and society. In this episode: the cost of living has been high, but all too often, we also pay a premium. It's because of dynamic pricing, drip pricing and now personalised pricing. Dynamic pricing is why, after queuing for hours, Oasis fans were offered tickets that were considerably more expensive than the ones advertised. It's also why do you can be offered different prices each time you try and book an airline ticket, or a hotel online. Big data means that companies can figure out exactly what you are willing to pay online and can shift the price you face to match that. AI data-gathering software is causing cartel-like behaviour amongst competitors, who can draw similar conclusions about their market, and set similar prices.The depth of information available to companies means that they know the price a market will bear, rather than how much customers can afford and regardless of interest rates set by central banks.   Regulators are playing catch-up, but what other strategies could be used to combat anti-competitive pricing led by algorithms? And what needs to change to ensure buyers can work out if they're getting a fair deal? Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Clare FordhamContributors: 
David Dayen, writer and journalist, and the executive editor of The American Prospect magazine.
Tom Smith, partner at Geradin, and former Legal Director at the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, Professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.
Martyn James, consumer rights campaigner and journalist.

Rethink...pricing

Rethink looks again at the issues of our time, and considers how we might approach them differently.  Scrutinising the latest thinking and research, we look at what this might mean for policy and society. In this episode, we’re looking at one of the most divisive issues of our time – immigration – and in particular, how we can change the discourse around migration. Polling from the British Social Attitudes survey suggests that the UK is now more divided on immigration, by age, education, and political party, than at any time since 2011. But polling also indicates that there are large areas of agreement between people who are pro-immigration and others who are immigration-sceptic. A majority of people think net immigration is too high. A majority also believe that Ukrainian refugees, Afghans who helped UK forces, Hong Kong Chinese, doctors, nurses and care workers should be allowed to come to the UK.  And most people agree that crossing the channel in small boats is not a good idea.So if a majority of people agree on these issues, how have we become so tribal? Why have politicians of all flavours failed us over the decades? How can get them to be more honest about the trade-offs that come with every immigration decision that's made - and how can we change the political discourse?Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Clare FordhamContributors:
Sunder Katwala, Director, British Future
Alan Manning, Professor of Economics at the LSE and former chair of the Migration Advisory Committee 
Dr Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory in Oxford, and a current advisor to the Migration Advisory Committee 
Robert Colvile, Director, the Centre for Policy Studies

Rethink... immigration

Rethink considers how we might take a different approach to the issues of our time, asking some of the brightest minds what we could do to make the world a better place. This week: billionaires. They are some of the wealthiest people who have ever lived - a tiny group with a large influence on politics, society and the lives of millions. The gap between the super rich and everyone else is huge. According to Credit Suisse, just fourteen billionaires own fourteen percent of the world’s entire wealth. Should we cap the wealth of the super rich? Philosopher Ingrid Robeyns has developed the concept of "limitarianism". This would limit an individual's wealth to 10 million dollars, pounds or euros - or whatever the local currency is - with anything beyond that point confiscated by governments. So is this theft? Socialism gone mad? A good idea? Or something that governments must do? Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Lucy Burns 
Editor: Clare FordhamContributors: 
Ingrid Robeyns, professor of Ethics of Institutions at Utrecht University and author of "Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth"Liam Byrne, Labour MP and author of the book "The Inequality of Wealth"
Sam Dumitriu, author and head of policy at campaign group Britain Remade
Helen Miller, Deputy Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and head of their tax sector

Rethink... wealth

One person, one vote - we're all equal in the voting booth, right? But it hasn't always been this way, and just who can vote has changed many times since the Second World War.  Until 1951, business owners and some university graduates were allowed multiple votes. 18 year olds could vote for the first time in the 1970 general election, and In 2024 British expats who had lived outside the UK for longer than 15 years were given the vote. There are anomalies too. Irish and Commonwealth citizens who have just arrived in the UK can vote as long as they're registered, but an EU citizen who's lived here for 20 years cannot, unless they become a British citizen.        And when it comes to the results, smaller parties say the First Past the Post system leaves them with few seats that don't reflect their level of support. So is there a better way? Quadratic voting, which allows people to vote multiple times could be the answer. Ben Ansell speaks to one of its inventors, and asks, "is it time to rethink voting?"Presenter: Ben Ansell 
Producer: Ravi Naik 
Editor: Clare Fordham Contributors
Glen Weyl, Microsoft Research 
Rosie Campbell Professor of Politics at King's College London
Dr Hannah White the CEO of the Institute for Government 
Rob Ford Professor of Political Science at the University of Manchester

Rethink... voting

Rethink examines emerging issues in politics, society, economics, technology and the UK's place in the world, and considers how we might approach them differently. We look at the latest thinking and research and discuss new ideas that might make the world a better place.In this episode, we look at "Enshittification", or to put it more politely - the problem of internet platform decay. Facebook used to be about posts from your friends, but its feed now also includes groups, adverts, reels, and threads posts. Trying to work out if the Amazon product you want is any good can be tricky, because sellers can pay for their product to appear higher in your list of results. Search engines are not immune; German researchers have found that Google, Bing and Duck Duck Go are prone to spam marketing, making it more difficult to find what you want. There's no ill-intent behind this: platform decay is a side-effect of the way these businesses work.  So what can governments and individuals do, to try to get a better internet for everyone?Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ravi Naik
Editor: Clare FordhamContributors:
Cory Doctorow, visiting Professor of Computer Science at the Open University, and co-founder of the UK Open Rights group. 
Professor Gina Neff, Executive Director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy at the University of Cambridge,
Marie Le Conte, political journalist and author of the book escape - about the rise and demise of the internet 
Dr Cristina Caffarra, competition economist and former anti-trust consultant.

Rethink: Is the internet getting worse?

What type of leadership does the world need to tackle global warming? Amol Rajan discusses whether people with power are doing enough to solve the climate crisis. Are politicians just too focused on the ballot box to take long term decisions? What about the role of celebrities and business leaders? Graihagh Jackson, presenter of the BBC podcast ‘The Climate Question’ is with Amol alongside guests Lord Deben, Greg Jackson, Monika Langthaler and Professor Daniel Schrag.Producers Nick Holland and Marianna Brain
Sound design Graham Puddifoot
Editor Lizzi Watson
Production coordinators Sophie Hill, Helena Warwick-Cross and Siobhan Reed

Leadership

Will technology and innovation slow down or even reverse climate change? Amol Rajan looks at some of the existing innovations that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and also at some of those still being developed. He asks whether we're relying too much on the promise of technology that either isn’t ready yet or can’t work at scale.  Graihagh Jackson, presenter of the BBC podcast ‘The Climate Question’ is with Amol alongside guests the former President of Kiribati Anote Tong, James Arbib, Aoife O’Leary and Dr Jan Rosenow.Producers Nick Holland and Marianna Brain
Sound design Graham Puddifoot
Editor Lizzi Watson
Production coordinators Siobhan Reed, Helena Warwick-Cross and Sophie Hill

Green technology and innovation

Amol Rajan explores what switching to a green economy may mean for the way we live and work and whether it's compatible with financial growth. If, for the sake of the planet we need to cut production, consumption and perhaps profit, then how will we pay for the essential services we need in the future? There are some difficult choices to make that sound particularly tough amid a cost-of-living crisis. However, despite all the difficulties, there are those who foresee a cleaner, fairer and more enriching world.   Graihagh Jackson, presenter of the BBC podcast ‘The Climate Question’ is with Amol Rajan alongside guests Professor Tim Jackson, Bernice Lee, Najma Mohamed and Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas Producers Nick Holland and Marianna Brain
Sound design Graham Puddifoot
Editor Lizzi Watson
Production co-ordinators Siobhan Reed, Sophie Hill, Helena Warwick-Cross

Green economy, money and prosperity

What personal lifestyle habits are we prepared to give up to stop global warming and who bears responsibility for changing our behaviour? Is it the state or the individual? Amol Rajan discusses why we continue to live the way we do, despite knowing the planet is heating up. Is it ignorance or denial? Perhaps the problems is with the way we talk about climate change. If so, then how does the discourse need to change?Graihagh Jackson, presenter of the BBC podcast ‘The Climate Question’ is with Amol Rajan alongside guests  Tom Bailey,  Meghan Kennedy-Woodard and George Marshall.Producers Nick Holland and Marianna Brain
Sound design Graham Puddifoot
Editor Lizzi Watson
Production Coordinators Siobhan Reed, Sophie Hill, Helena Warwick-Cross

Behaviour and communication

In the first programme in this series Amol Rajan and guests examine the pledges that have been made on climate change and how far we have gone towards meeting them.  What has worked to reduce greenhouse gasses and what’s not working, including the role of COP.  Is the commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees the right one?Graihagh Jackson, presenter of the BBC podcast ‘The Climate Question’ is with Amol, alongside guests Professor Saleemul Huq,  Mikaela Loach, Emeritus Professor Bill McGuire and Sarah BellProducers Nick Holland & Marianna Brain
Sound design Graham Puddifoot
Editor Lizzi Watson
Production Coordinators Siobhan Reed, Helena Warwick-Cross and Sophie Hill

Pledges and progress

Amol Rajan and his guests look for some answers on how to tackle the challenges thrown up by demographic change. From the pressure put on governments by burgeoning populations of young people, to the tactics best adopted by those of us planning to live to a hundred.GUESTSCamilla Cavendish, former Director of Policy for Prime Minister David Cameron, Financial Times columnist and author of 'Extra Time: 10 Lessons for an Ageing World'Professor Andrew Scott, Professor of Economics at London Business School and author of 'The 100-Year Life - Living and Working in an Age of Longevity'Dr Eliza Filby writer and historianProfessor Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford and author of 'Is the Planet Full?'Presenter: Amol Rajan
Producer: Lucinda Borrell
Editor: Kirsty Reid

Getting ready for the 100-year life

Amol Rajan and his guests look at Japan where almost a third of the population is aged 65 or over. What does that mean for Japan's economy, and its future? And what can other ageing countries learn from its experiences so far?GUESTSKathy Matsui, partner at venture capital fund MPowerCelia Hatton, Asia-Pacific Editor for the BBCBill Emmott, Chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, former Editor of the EconomistNoreena Hertz economist and author of 'The Lonely Century'Presenter: Amol Rajan
Producer: Lucinda Borrell
Editor: Kirsty Reid

What Japan can teach us

In episode three of the series, Amol Rajan is joined by guests from Africa and the Middle East to look at the challenges and opportunities faced by countries with rapidly growing young populations. Will this mean demographic dividend or disaster for states like Nigeria?    
 
GUESTS  
 
Dr Wangui Kimari, Junior Research Fellow, Institute for Humanities in Africa at the University of Cape Town 
 
Cheta Nwanze, Lead Partner at SBM Intelligence 
 
Meray Maddah, Research Assistant, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute 
 
Dr. Paul Morland, Author of ‘The Human Tide: How Population Shaped the Modern World’  
  
Presenter: Amol Rajan 
Producer: Ayeisha Thomas-Smith 
Editor: Kirsty Reid

Living in a young country

Amol Rajan and guests look at why British birth rates have declined so much. Can we - should we - try to reverse this and how will we pay for the health and care needs of our growing elderly population?  
 
GUESTS  
 
Prof Sarah Harper, Director and Clore Professor of Gerontology, Oxford Institute of Population Ageing 
  
Miatta Fahnbulleh, CEO, New Economics Foundation 
  
Robert Colvile, Director, Centre for Policy Studies 
  
David Runciman - Professor of Politics, University of Cambridge 
  
Presenter: Amol Rajan  
Producer: Rob Walker  
Editor: Kirsty Reid

The Great British Baby Bust

In a new five-part Rethink series, Amol Rajan and guests challenge some of our long-held assumptions about population change. Are there really too many people in the world - or will some countries actually end up with too few?  
 
GUESTS 
 
Rt Hon. Lord David Willets, President of the Advisory Council and Intergenerational Centre of the Resolution Foundation 
  
Professor Anna Rotkirch, Director, Population Research Institute, Väestöliitto, Finland 
   
Professor Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford 
 
Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India 
 
Presenter: Amol Rajan  
Producer: Rob Walker  
Editor: Kirsty Reid

Is demography destiny?

During the pandemic many schools and universities relied on virtual lessons using video software. In the final programme of this Rethink on Education, we look to the future and ask what is the role of technology in education?  Will students be taught virtually or will online resources only be used to enhance the classroom experience?  Amol Rajan and guests discuss.GUESTS:Alex Beard, Author, Natural Born LearnersMatt Hood, Founder, Oak National AcademyDilshad Sheikh, Dean of the Business School, Arden UniversityDr. Elizabeth Gemmill, Department for Continuing Education, Oxford UniversityPresenter: Amol Rajan
Producer: Julie Ball
Editor: Kirsty Reid

Technology and Education

Universities receive double the amount of funding that Further Education colleges get, despite the fact they have twice the number of students, most of whom are in vocational training.  If the country is to meet the requirements of new technology jobs, and skills, should we be investing more money in higher education that provides the skills we will need for the future economic prosperity of the country rather than a course in English Literature?   Amol Rajan and guests discuss.GUESTS:Professor Dame Ann Dowling, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Cambridge University, Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering David Goodhart, Author 'Head, Hand, Heart: The struggle for dignity and status in the 21st CenturyJude Kelly, Founder WoW FoundationProfessor Steven Spier, Vice-chancellor, Kingston UniversityPresenter: Amol Rajan
Producer: Julie Ball
Editor: Kirsty Reid

Are we teaching the right subjects for the future of the country?

Should we change the current system of examinations for our 16 and 18 year olds?  During the past two years pupils across the UK have missed out on official exams like GCSEs, A Levels and Highers. So are official exams no longer needed? The current system was set up as a conduit for the now, 50 percent of students who go to university. But what about those who don't go on to higher education, are they being catered for? Is there a better way to assess what young people have learnt whilst at school that will help them get what they want out of life in the future?     Amol Rajan and guests discuss. GUESTSLord Kenneth Baker, Baker Dearing Educational Trust, UTC'sLaura McInerney, Founder,  TeacherTapp Dr. Kevin Stannard, Head of Innovation and Learning, Girls' Day Schools TrustAliyah Irabor-York, Student & Founder , Pupil PowerandKiran Gill, CEO and Founder, The Difference Presenter: Amol Rajan
Producer: Julie Ball
Editor: Kirsty Reid

Is the current exam system fit for purpose?

Today's Rethink is looking at early years and primary education. With cuts in child services, are primary schools and early years providers becoming ersatz parents as well as educators? Providing everything from meals to setting boundaries in a space where children can be their very best?Amol Rajan and guests discuss whether educators can really make up for what's missing in the home?GUESTSDr. Mary Bousted, Joint General-Secretary, National Education UnionNaomi Eisenstadt, Chair, Northamptonshire Integrated Care System and Honorary Fellow at the University of Oxford Dept of Education  Zane Powles,  MBE, Asst Deputy Headteacher, Western Primary School, Grimsby Shaddai Tembo, Lecturer, Early Years,  University of Highlands and IslandsPresenter: Amol Rajan
Producer: Julie Ball
Editor: Kirsty Reid

Can school make up for what's lacking at home?

Rethinking Education.  In a new five part Rethink series, Amol Rajan and guests discuss how we can re-think the Education system post pandemic.   GUESTSKikelomo Agunbiade, Head of Education,  IPPR Claire-Marie Cuthbert - Chief Executive, Evolve TrustDavid Perks, Principal and Founder,  East London Science SchoolProfessor David Runciman, Professor of Politics and History, Cambridge UniversityPresenter: Amol Rajan
Producer: Julie Ball
Editor: Kirsty Reid

What is education for?

Professor Jude Browne looks at how we tackle the concept of responsibility post-pandemic

Jude Browne: Rethinking Responsibility

Author Graeber questions the purpose of our work.

David Graeber: Rethinking Jobs

Activist Sinxoto reminds us that millions of people live in constant danger.

Amonge Sinxoto: Rethinking Safety

Rt. Hon. Douglas Alexander, Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, suggests a series of specific policies to address low pay.

Rt. Hon. Douglas Alexander: Rethinking Economic Dignity

Musician Tunstall shares that convenience for consumers comes at a huge cost for artists

K T Tunstall: Rethinking The Music Industry

Cookery writer Dimbleby reflects on how food is a marker of civilisation.

Henry Dimbleby: Rethinking How We Eat

Writer Bastani investigates the change in demographics and how it will affect us.

Aaron Bastani: Rethinking An Ageing Population

Neurologist Ramachandran asks how the pandemic has changed how we think about ourselves.

V.S Ramachandran: Rethinking Brains

Journalist Lal argues for institutions to be re-engineered for the post-pandemic world

C K Lal: Rethinking Institutions

Senior Nurse Cooper makes an impassioned plea for justice.

Carol Cooper: Rethinking Racial Equality

Chef Katona asks us to consider what makes the restaurant experience precious.

Nisha Katona: Rethinking Hospitality

Former United States National Security Advisor McMaster calls for consideration.

H. R. McMaster: Rethinking Empathy

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has a checklist of priorities for the post-pandemic world.

Dalai Lama: Rethinking Ancient Wisdom

Economist Mazzucato challenges the economic models that have dominated post-war policy

Mariana Mazzucato: Rethinking Value

Philosopher O'Neill asks if tech giants have done irreversible damage to society/

Onora O'Neill: Rethinking Digital Power

Writer Sardar asks us what 'the new normal' is concealing.

Ziauddin Sardar: Rethinking Normality

Lecturer Yao explains how masks are an expression of commitment to the collective good

Dr Xine Yao: Rethinking Masks

Writer Emina asks if we can experience the benefits and joy of travel without moving.

Seb Emina: Rethinking Travel

Writer Townsend imagines a future that prioritises convenience

Anthony Townsend: Rethinking Robots

Historian Riley questions the concept of university being a rite of passage for the young

Dr Charlotte Riley: Rethinking Universities

Journalist Wallace-Wells applies cautious optimism to our current moment.

David Wallace-Wells: Rethinking Consensus

Professor Griffin highlights the unpaid and emotional work that often goes unrecognised.

Emma Griffin: Rethinking Work

Author Jones questions how our disconnection with nature is affecting our lives

Lucy Jones: Rethinking Biophilia

CEO of AstraZeneca, Soriot praises the example shown by scientists working together.

Pascal Soriot: Rethinking Medical Co-operation

Campaigner Rivett-Carnac asks us to examine the stories we tell about ourselves.

Tom Rivett-Carnac: Rethinking History

Author Skelton supports a reinvigorated focus on manufacturing and technical education.

David Skelton: Rethinking Industry

Author Gerrard asks us to remember the role, rights and needs of older people.

Nicci Gerrard: Rethinking Old Age

Journalist Faroohar analyses the growing power of Big Tech.

Rana Faroohar: Rethinking Data

American geographer and author Diamond asks if democracies are agile enough to do what's needed.

Jared Diamond: Rethinking A Global Response

Author Morah asks what we can do for each other, regardless of national boundaries.

Mirabelle Morah: Rethinking Ourselves

Author Giridharadas asks if now is the moment to rethink everything.

Anand Giridharadas: Rethinking Capitalism

Philosopher Appiah reminds us that collective action is the sum of individual actions.

Kwame Anthony Appiah: Rethinking The Power Of Small Actions

Author Sumption questions the freedoms we have given up during the pandemic.

Jonathan Sumption: Rethinking The State

Musician Eno investigates the kinds of leadership available to us.

Brian Eno: Rethinking The Winners

Prince Charles argues that this country is uniquely well placed to champion an agri-"culture" that is the envy of the world.

HRH Prince Charles: Rethinking Nature

Economist Krugman wants us to recognise our inescapable inter-dependence.

Paul Krugman: Rethinking Solidarity

Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Kerala State, Shailaja discusses the power of science.

K K Shailaja: Rethinking Development

Former rower Grainger reminds us that the Olympics were created in a time of upheaval

Katherine Grainger: Rethinking The Olympics

Philanthropist and investor Soros puts forwards some radical economic proposals.

George Soros: Rethinking Debt

Civil rights activist McKesson passionately believes in a better America for young black men

DeRay McKesson: Rethinking The Impossible

Philosopher Pinker discusses the possibility of progress

Steven Pinker: Rethinking Human Nature

Chair of the Wellcome Trust, Manningham-Buller details the shocking disparities in life expectancy.

Eliza Manningham-Buller: Rethinking Health Inequality

Scientist Walker proposes a radical rediscovery of how, when and why we sleep.

Matthew Walker: Rethinking Sleep

President and CEO of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), McCarthy is passionate about the potential for change.

Gina McCarthy: Rethinking Activism

Author Dabiri asks us to move beyond identity politics and build meaningful connections.

Emma Dabiri: Rethinking Identity

Former Olympic champion Adlington challenges us to take control of the things that matter

Rebecca Adlington: Rethinking The Athlete's Life

Sprinter and broadcaster Jackson argues for us to see our bodies as a luxury.

Colin Jackson: Rethinking Our Responsibility For Our Health

Tennis player Murray highlights the importance of treating athletes equally

Andy Murray: Rethinking Equality In Sport

Inventor of the world wide web, Berners-Lee argues that we need to start designing the digital habits we want.

Tim Berners-Lee: Rethinking Digital Access

Philosopher Chambers asks if our attitudes to our bodies have changed.

Clare Chambers: Rethinking The Body

Scientist and author Russell asks us to consider the benefit of artificial intelligence