Your everyday guide to economics and why you should care

Image of Economics with Subtitles

A new four-part OU/BBC series, Economics with Subtitles, starts on Radio 4 on Saturday (4 August) lunchtime.

It is being presented by economics podcaster Ayeisha Thomas-Smith and stand-up comedian (with an economics degree) Steve Bugeja who will translate the economic jargon that fills our media and politicians’ mouths into words you can understand and use.

There are stories of sex (and inflation), drugs (and GDP) and rock and roll (and a 90-year-old economist) in the show! It is going out at 12:04 with repeats on Sunday (5 August) at 21:02 and Wednesday (8 August) at 15:02.

Dr Peter Bloom from The Open University Business School was one of three academic consultants who worked on the series, together with OU colleagues Dr Alan Shipman and Dr Rajiv Prabhakar.

You can find out more about the series via the OpenLearn website.

Upcoming Events

Jun 2

Technology, Inclusion and Esports: Opening Up New Spaces of Participation

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - 10:30 to 12:30

Online and and in person at The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BB

This event explores the relationship between technology, inclusion, and esports, examining how digital gaming environments can create new opportunities for participation, connection, and belonging in society and organisations.

Jul 16

Guest lecture: Fraud, Data and Emerging Risks

Thursday, July 16, 2026 - 14:00 to 15:30

Online on MS Teams

This guest lecture with Mike Haley, CEO of Cifas, will provide an overview of the types of fraud currently causing the greatest harm to society and examine how advances in AI are likely to affect fraud cases in the future.

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