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ON NOW : Business Matters
Is the Japanese spending spree working?

Business Matters Japan's leader is convinced that a spending spree will lift his country out of stagnation

ON NEXT : 02:01 BBC News

The Forum

Image for 30/04/2011

Play now 45 mins

30/04/2011

Duration:
45 minutes
First broadcast:
Saturday 30 April 2011

Do we have to fake it to make it? We look at the subterfuge and posturing of the business world. Are big bonuses simply there for bankers to boost their image and line their pockets, rather than actually improve performance?

And to theatre of a different kind – the Indian call centre workers who are paid to mimic their Western counterparts. But how has this affected their sense of self?

And the secret double dealing where both sides are conspiring for a product which is second best.

Guest presenter Lyse Doucet is joined by Israeli behavioural economist Dan Ariely, American sociologist Shehzad Nadeem, and Italian philosopher Gloria Origgi.

Illustration by Emily Kasriel: being inspired by big bonuses to settle for second best in the world of India call centres.

Chapters

4 items

  • Part 1: Dan Ariely

    Surprising insights into the behaviour of big earners...

  • Shehzad Nadeem

    Outsourcing in India is changing the way Indians see themselves...

  • 60 second Idea

    Companies should be required to disclose the 'social ingredients' in products...

  • Part 2: Gloria Origgi

    Business double-dealing means people connive to get a low quality exchange...

  • Dan Ariely

    Dan Ariely

    The posturing of bankers when it comes to big bonuses, but are these financial incentives actually working? Israeli behavioural economist Dan Ariely has surprising insights into the behaviour of big earners.

  • Shehzad Nadeem

    Shehzad Nadeem

    The masquerade of outsourcing in India and how it’s changing the way Indians see themselves. Sociologist Shehzad Nadeem tells us more about the Indian call centre workers who are trained to mimic the Westerners they have replaced.

  • Gloria Origgi

    Gloria Origgi

    The Italian philosopher Gloria Origgi on the double dealing in the world of commerce and the preference for low quality exchanges. She explains why in business people sometimes prefer the worst rather than the best.

  • Forum Studio

    Forum Studio

    Gloria Origgi and Presenter Lyse Doucet in the Forum studio in Bush House.

  • Outside Bush House

    Outside Bush House

    Gloria Origgi travelled from Paris to London's Bush House for the programme.

  • SIXTY SECOND IDEA TO CHANGE THE WORLD

    Disclose social ingredients in products...

    American sociologist Shehzad Nadeem wants companies to disclose the labour conditions of the workers who make their products. That way informed consumers would then be voting for particular ways of producing things when they buy goods.

  • In Next Week’s Programme:

    Why treating people like objects is at the root of the most heinous of crimes with autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen, mafia investigator Federico Varese and Indian novelist Radhika Jha.

Broadcasts

See all broadcasts of 30/04/2011 (4)

Free downloads

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    Forum - A World of Ideas

    Ideas from the world's biggest thinkers. Hear philosophers, scientists, politicians, novelists,...

  2. Image for Forum - Sixty Second Idea to Improve the World

    Forum - Sixty Second Idea to Improve the World

    A radical, inspiring, controversial idea from a global thinker from the world of philosophy,...

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