In an age of high technology communications, two long-established  companies in a single German city are still battling each other for supremacy in a global marketplace ... in pencils. In Nuremberg Peter Day asks Faber-Castell and Staedtler how they both stay sharp ... and finds out what light (and shade) they can throw on the success of German industry and the viability of Europe as a single economy. 

Turmoil across the Middle East sent oil prices jumping and has raised big questions about the security of the energy supplies that have powered the world economy for the past 100 years. Peter Day investigates the future of oil and what the current upheavals might mean for other energy supplies.

Brazil, Russia, Indonesia and China are the BRICs - the developing countries experts think are well on their way to the top of the world's economic league table. But now there's talk that the fourth most populous country, Indonesia, is heading there, too. From Jakarta, Peter Day finds out more.

Peter Day has his 'thinking hat' on for this edition when he hears from two academics from the Rotman School of Management in Toronto, Canada.

Turmoil across the Middle East sent oil prices jumping and has raised big questions about the security of the energy supplies that have powered the world economy for the past 100 years. Peter Day investigates the future of oil and what the current upheavals might mean for other energy supplies.

Investment bankers are talking up Indonesia's chances of joining the BRICs nations. Indonesia's current main international significance is its exported raw materials: coal and oil and palm oil to China and other parts of Asia. But for this programme Peter Day has been hearing from two busy Indonesian women, both conservative Muslims, both mothers, who both have big ideas and businesses. Yanti Isa has a chain of fast food restaurants which she has managed to roll out throughout many of the country's islands. Ligwina Hananto is a personal financial advisor and radio host who believes that by managing their money the expanding middle classes can help advance their country.

Brazil, Russia, India and China are the developing countries many experts think are well on their way to the top of the global economic league table But now there's talk that the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia, is heading there, too. Peter Day has been in Jakarta, the capital, to find out more.

Peter Day hears from Lester Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute, about his new book "World on the Edge - How to prevent environmental and economic collapse".