The Bottom Line

'Good economic growth in every postcode' is the ambitious slogan being used by the prime minister, Andy Burnham. His big idea is to devolve decision making and spending powers away from Westminster so towns and cities can, in his words “do more, and in doing more build a new economy.” He’s also talked of re-industrialisation. Previous governments have talked of northern powerhouses, and levelling-up. There has been some success notably in Greater Manchester, but when it comes to the imbalanced economic geography of the UK, despite all that talk, little has changed. Overall productivity across the North of England is still lower than in London and the South East. It’s argued that for too long there’s been underinvestment, regional inequality and a lack of opportunity for many communities. If Andy Burnham marks a renaissance for regeneration, then what’s the plan? How do you get good growth in every postcode in the North of England? Evan Davis looks for answers by speaking to business leaders representing less well-connected parts of the region.
Guests:
Susan Hinchcliffe: Former Labour leader of Bradford Council
Finbarr Dowling: Chairman of The Humber Freeport
Henri Murison: Chief Executive at The Northern Powerhouse Partnership
Dave Fishwick: Entrepreneur and Founder of Burnley Savings and Loans
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producers: Nick Holland & Sally Abrahams
Sound: Dave O'Neill & James Beard
Production Coordinator: Kate Morrison
Editor: Matt Willis

Why buy when you can subscribe? From food boxes to fashion, businesses are increasingly keen to sign us up for regular payments. The attraction is clear – predictable income for companies and convenience for consumers. But what happens when we forget to cancel, keep paying for things we barely use or find it harder to leave than join? Evan Davis and guests explore the appeal and the pitfalls of the subscription economy.
Guests:
Murray Lambell, chief customer officer, Gousto;
Mark Ralea, general manager, Fabletics Europe;
Kate Nightingale, psychologist and founder, Humanising Brands;
and Lisa Webb, consumer law expert at Which?
Production team:
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producers: Nick Holland and Sally Abrahams
Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound engineers: James Beard and Dave O’Neill
Editor: Matt Willis

What is going wrong with the largest economy in Europe? It accounts for roughly one-third of the continent's total manufacturing output but since 2020 there's been very little growth. Some people suggest the problems facing the country have been brewing for decades. It's argued Germany has been slow to adapt to modern ways of doing business and hasn't kept up with industrial competition from abroad. Evan Davis is joined by a panel of experts to understand how much trouble the German economy is in, why it's struggling and what it can do to revive itself.
Guests:
Verena Pausder: Chair of the German Start-Up Association
Nicola Pinder: Business expansion consultant for the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg
Marcel Fratzscher: President of the German Institute for Economic Research
Wolfgang Munchau: Journalist and Author of Kaput, The End of the German Miracle
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producers: Nick Holland & Sally Abrahams
Sound: Dave O'Neill & Donald MacDonald
Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison
Editor: Matt Willis

If there’s one business that’s ingrained in popular culture, you could argue it's the buying and selling of antiques. You only have to count the number of TV shows where people find and flog something hoping for a profit to recognise the appeal. But how does the business really operate? Is it accurately portrayed on television and how do antiques come up for sale in the first place? Evan Davis is joined by a panel of experts to get some answers and asks whether anything we manufacture today will last long enough to be auctioned off in a hundred years-time.
Guests:
Catherine Southon: Catherine Southon Auctioneers and Valuers, TV expert on Flog It!, Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip
Mark Hill: Dealer, Author, Lecturer and TV expert on Antiques Road Show and Antiques Road Trip
Conor Hannah: Founder of SellingAntiques.co.uk
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producers: Nick Holland & Sally Abrahams
Sound: Dave O'Neill & Neil Churchill
Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison
Editor Matt Willis

Drones are no longer simply small flying cameras. They’re being used to fight wars, find people lost at sea, inspect infrastructure and gather intelligence. Evan Davis and guests discuss what’s driving the extraordinary growth of the drone industry. And, as the technology gets cheaper, smarter and longer-range, what does it take to build a successful drone business?
Guests:
Mike Armstrong, MD, Stark Defence UK
Gemma Alcock, Founder and CEO, Skybound
Mark Westwood, Director of Defence and a Professor of Aeronautics, Cranfield University
Production team:
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producers: Bethan Ashmead, Nick Holland, Sally Abrahams
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill
Editor: Matt Willis