Simon Evans Goes To Market
Broadcast on BBC Radio 4
May 15th to June 5th 2014

How do you make economics funny? How do you put the comedy in commodity? Simon Evans has the answer in this new series which asks us to get involved in investment.

Rather than being cowed by an apparently complicated and overwhelming system, Simon jumps right in. He takes as his focus four commodities which are so intrinsic to our lives they have an almost elemental significance - land, gold, oil and grain. Yet, despite the fact we encounter them everywhere we look, very few people have been able to build a fortune on them.

All that's about to change as, Simon enlists help from the experts. Each week he will be joined by Tim Harford, Merryn Somerset Webb and a guest specialist as they examine the chequered social and economic histories of these commodities. By looking at four such fundamental products, Simon brings us to a closer understanding of how global economic forces have a far-reaching and often surprising impact on our lives.

Performed by Simon Evans, with regular guests Tim Harford and Merryn Somerset-Webb.

Written by Simon Evans with Benjamin Partridge, Guy Venables and Andy Wolton.
Researched by Matthew Oldham.
Produced by Tilusha Ghelani.

Episode 1 - Land
In this first episode, Simon looks at Land. How did it come to be traded, why we think bricks and mortar are a safe investment and who really owns the land we buy..
First broadcast: 15 May 2014

Episode 2 - Grain
In this episode, Simon looks at commodities markets in grain. How moral is it to trade in food? How much of it is animal feed and what is the future of food?
First broadcast: 22 May 2014

Episode 3 - Gold
In this episode, Simon looks at why we buy and sell gold all around the world. When did that begin? Why do we continue now we have paper money?
First broadcast: 29 May 2014

Episode 4 - Oil
In this episode, Simon looks at commodities markets in oil or petrolium. How is it produced? Why is this trade different to others? Is our over-reliance on it dangerous?
First broadcast: 05 Jun 2014

Recorded from iPlayer.

Audio Codec: MPEG-1 Layer 3
Audio Sample Rate: 44100 Hz 
Audio BitRate Type: CBR
Audio Channels: 2
Audio Bitrate (kbps): 128