Rethink

Rethink... wealth


Listen Later

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 Fordham

Contributors:

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

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

RethinkBy BBC Sounds

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

9 ratings


More shows like Rethink

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,625 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

371 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

879 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,045 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,487 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,793 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,774 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,048 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,088 Listeners

The Bottom Line by BBC Radio 4

The Bottom Line

37 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

298 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

70 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

239 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

160 Listeners

Westminster Hour by BBC Radio 4

Westminster Hour

47 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

77 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,162 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,140 Listeners

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government by Institute for Government

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

20 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

740 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,105 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: Leading by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

815 Listeners

When It Hits the Fan by BBC Radio 4

When It Hits the Fan

49 Listeners

How To Win An Election by Times Radio

How To Win An Election

24 Listeners

Rory Stewart: The Long History of... by BBC Radio 4

Rory Stewart: The Long History of...

79 Listeners