Beyond Today

Are billionaires a bad thing?


Listen Later

There are more than 150 billionaires in the UK, but is that concentration of immense wealth actually a sign of failure? Should anyone ever be worth a sum of money that has nine zeroes in it?

For decades nobody seemed to question wealth: it was something to aspire to, and the idea that money would trickle down to the rest of society was widespread. But things seem to be shifting. Mainstream politicians are questioning what, until just a few years ago, was the accepted wisdom that it’s fine to be filthy rich as long as you pay lots of tax along the way and then become a philanthropist.

We hear from the BBC’s Business editor Simon Jack, and check in with Kerry Dolan, who’s been helping to compile the Forbes rich list for the last 25 years. And our producer Lucy Hancock went to meet artist Darren Cullen, who runs a museum of neoliberalism.

Presented by Matthew Price.

Producers: Heidi Pett, Lucy Hancock, Katie Gunning.
Mixed by Nicolas Raufast.
Editor: John Shields

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Beyond TodayBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

90 ratings


More shows like Beyond Today

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,955 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,589 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,051 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,470 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,801 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,766 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,043 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,090 Listeners

London Real by Brian Rose

London Real

1,202 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,784 Listeners

Modern Wisdom by Chris Williamson

Modern Wisdom

3,939 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,184 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

723 Listeners

The High Performance Podcast by High Performance

The High Performance Podcast

579 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

15,271 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,633 Listeners

Honestly with Bari Weiss by The Free Press

Honestly with Bari Weiss

8,697 Listeners

ZOE Science & Nutrition by ZOE

ZOE Science & Nutrition

2,073 Listeners

Great Company with Jamie Laing by Jampot Productions

Great Company with Jamie Laing

315 Listeners

Where Shall We Meet by Omid Ashtari & Natascha McElhone

Where Shall We Meet

13 Listeners