Menu
Podcasts
Podcasts
Description
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how, between the 16th and 18th centuries, Europe was dominated by an economic way of thinking called mercantilism. The key idea was that exports should be as high as possible and imports minimised.
For more than 300 years, almost every ruler and political thinker was a mercantilist. Eventually, economists including Adam Smith, in his ground-breaking work of 1776 The Wealth of Nations, declared that mercantilism was a flawed concept and it became discredited. However, a mercantilist economic approach can still be found in modern times and today’s politicians sometimes still use rhetoric related to mercantilism.
With
D’Maris Coffman Professor in Economics and Finance of the Built Environment at University College London Craig Muldrew Professor of Social and Economic History at the University of Cambridge and a Member of Queens’ College
and
Helen Paul, Lecturer in Economics and Economic History at the University of Southampton.
Producer Luke Mulhall
What does President Trump plan to do with Venezuela’s oil?
NPR
President Trump says he plans to control revenue f....
Emily Dickinson (Archive Episode)
BBC Sounds
To celebrate Melvyn Bragg’s 27 years presenting ....
Supreme Court poised to rule on tariffs, birthright citizenship and more
NPR
The Supreme Court is expected to rule this year on....
Jan. 6, 2021: Five Years Later
NPR
Five years ago, a mob attacked the United States C....
How Do Trump’s Actions In Venezuela Square With MAGA And ‘America First’?
NPR
President Trump campaigned on promises to put “A....
Trump Says The U.S. Will 'Run' Venezuela After Capturing Maduro
NPR
Overnight, the U.S. military launched strikes on V....
U.S. foreign aid changed in 2025 – and it was felt around the world
NPR
On the night of his inauguration, President Trump ....
Welcome to the NPR Washington Desk
NPR
Happy New Year! In this special episode, the Polit....
Shakespeare's Sonnets (Archive Episode)
BBC Sounds
To celebrate Melvyn Bragg’s 27 years presenting ....
The Annual Can't Let It Go Year End Extravaganza
NPR
We look back on some of the highlights from 2025 w....
Year In Review: The Impact Of Project 2025
NPR
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....
Year In Review: Trump's Immigration Policy
NPR
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....
Year In Review: Trump's Foreign Policy
NPR
Editor's note: This episode originally aired on De....
Year In Review: Trump’s Environmental Policy
NPR
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....
Margery Kempe and English Mysticism (Archive Episode)
BBC Sounds
To celebrate Melvyn Bragg’s 27 years presenting ....
Year In Review: Trump, Gerrymandering & Redistricting
NPR
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....
Year In Review: Trump's Economy
NPR
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....
Year In Review: Congress' Successes & Failures
NPR
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....
Roundup: Congress Skips Town Without ACA Vote, Trump Reclassifies Cannabis
NPR
It was another busy week in Washington. We discuss....
Trump Uses Prime-Time Speech To Blame Biden, Immigrants For Economy Woes
NPR
President Trump used his prime-time speech Wednesd....
Eclipses (Archive Episode)
BBC Sounds
To celebrate Melvyn Bragg’s 27 years presenting ....
Americans Give Trump Low Marks On The Economy In New Poll
NPR
Only 36% of Americans approve of President Trump�....
Year In Review: Trump's Foreign Policy
NPR
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....
Donald Trump Is Sports-Fan-In-Chief
NPR
President Trump has built a brand as the sports-fa....