Radio Times

Review by:

Jack Seale

Michael Portillo’s welcoming, sometimes almost apolitical media persona is put to the test in the first of two documentaries weighing up the pros and cons of global capitalism. He talks to Nobel Prize-winner Amartya Sen, who should have something to say about global poverty and food prices; and to Cambridge economist Ha-Joon Chang, who advocates deep reform of financial systems and is an expert on why “listening to the markets” is a risky business. Also among those consulted are writer Will Hutton, FT executive Gillian Tett and ex-Chancellor Nigel Lawson. Part one asks: are people under capitalism greedy and divided, or rich and free?

About this programme

Part one of two. Michael Portillo follows up on a summer of riots, bailouts and market instability with an assessment of 21st-century global capitalism. He begins by weighing up the costs and benefits of the system, hearing from Amartya Sen, Will Hutton, Ha-Joon Chang, Gillian Tett and Nigel Lawson.

Cast and crew

Cast

Presenter

Michael Portillo

Contributor

Amartya Sen

Contributor

Will Hutton

Contributor

Ha-Joon Chang

Contributor

Nigel Lawson

Crew

Producer

Julia Johnson

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