In a world of relentless, high-velocity news, sometimes it pays to take a step back and look at the big picture.

Our guest this week, the US economist Brad DeLong, does that with some aplomb in his new book 'Slouching Towards Utopia', a sweeping survey of economic development from the late 19th century to the present day, and an attempt to work out how we've ended up in this period of roiling economic crises.

As well as making a big argument about the nature of economic life in the long 20th century that started in 1870, Brad's book is full of winning vignettes and works just as well as a piece of narrative history as an argument about economics.

Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.