People & Profit

In Paris, gyms stay closed and bars are shut down in an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19. We speak to some of those affected. Also, as the French government prepares to announce more financial support for those hardest hit, we take a look at who's bearing the cost of this crisis. Plus our reporters in Germany head to a town that's made music its business for 300 years.

He was once called the best boss in America: we speak to Dan Price, the man who took a million dollar pay cut to boost his workers' salaries five years ago. Also, will the current video gaming boom last beyond the Covid-19 pandemic? We take a closer look at the industry. And as Disney slashes thousands of jobs at its theme parks in the United States, we hear from some staff at Disneyland Paris about their fears for the future.

Another financial scandal rocks the banking world, sending shares tumbling. After nearly a decade of leaks, what lessons have we learned? Also, contact-tracing apps could help contain the coronavirus pandemic - but how to convince the public to use them? We speak to the developer of Ireland's breakout system about its success. And why Chinese carmakers are betting on Europe - as the next frontier for electric vehicles.

What hopes are there for a recovery from the coronavirus recession? We'll examine the OECD's latest forecast for the global economy with their chief economist, Laurence Boone. Also, will demand for oil ever return to pre-pandemic levels, and what will that mean for consumers and producers? Plus we meet the French winemakers making tough choices to survive a difficult 2020.

It's been a cruel summer for Europe's tourism industry - but did local visitors help make up for the lack for international travellers? Will the French government's plan to boost the economy help struggling small businesses? We talk to Paris-based entrepreneur Christian Osburn from Bike About Tours and Le Peleton Café. Plus: champagne producers try to keep a cork in this year's grape harvest, as demand for the sparkling wine loses its fizz.

A month after the devastating explosion at Beirut's port, we speak to the World Bank about the financial help Lebanon needs. Also in this programme: who wants to head up the World Trade Organization? The global body needs a new chief to steer it out of its current crisis. And a different kind of Brexit: meet the British farmers moving to northern France in search of a better income from agriculture.

This week, we’re at the annual gathering of France’s biggest business lobby Medef with social distancing in place. As the French government prepares to unveil fresh stimulus for the economy, we’ll find out what businesses want most. We’ll hear from entrepreneurs on how they’ve navigated the coronavirus crisis and about what will be the lasting effects of the pandemic.

The United Nations Development Programme has launched an appeal for a temporary basic income to slow the spread of the coronavirus and support the world's most vulnerable populations. Kate Moody speaks to George Gray Molina, its chief economist. Also in this week's show: is a pandemic the ideal moment to start a new business? French entrepreneurs are jumping into a rapidly changing landscape. Plus, our reporters in Beirut got a rare inside look at Lebanon's black market for foreign currency.

The coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed the way many businesses work, pushing more transactions and communication online. What does that mean for data protection? We speak to CEO of data privacy specialists Ethyca, Cillian Kieran, about the issues that digitalisation, working from home and new regulations present for companies. Also in the show: how much are governments paying for their Covid-19 tracing apps? Plus, some hope for France's beleaguered tourist industry as more French people choose to holiday close to home.

Is the call centre doomed? Many companies have had to completely reorganise their operations during the Covid-19 pandemic, with some turning to chatbot technology to support or replace their call centres. In this programme, we speak to Rob LoCascio, CEO of LivePerson, which specialises in this technology. He has seen a massive increase in demand for its services in recent months and believes the pandemic has caused a permanent shift in the sector that employs some 15 million people around the world.