Business Daily

Go back 50 years and Latin America was generally wealthier than East Asia. But that’s been reversed.

While the economies of East and Southeast Asia have taken off, enjoying a so-called "economic miracle", Latin America’s have experienced only tepid growth, despite the region’s enormous potential. Gideon Long asks why.

We go to Singapore, one of the most open and business friendly nations on earth, to visit a factory making credit cards using the latest computer chips. And we ask economists what Latin America can learn from the 'Asian Tigers'.

(Picture: A photograph of a tourist boat in Singapore next to a drone view shot showing buildings in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: Reuters/EPA images)

Presented and produced by Gideon Long Reporter: Monica Miller

It's a region blessed with incredible natural resources, from copper to lithium to rich agricultural lands. It’s home to vibrant cultures, amazing music and creative and talented people.

And yet it has never fulfilled its enormous economic potential.

All too often it’s lurched from boom to bust, from hyperinflation to debt crises.

We ask why that is.

We consider corruption, crime, inequality, excessive bureaucracy and weak governance.

We look at Argentina’s long decline and Venezuela’s economic implosion, and ask what Latin America can do to bring greater prosperity to its people.

Produced and presented by Gideon Long

(Image: A man waves an Argentine flag during the demonstration. Members of the Argentine Workers' General Confederation and social organizations protested against new Argentine President Javier Milei's economic reforms, outside the Justice Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Credit: Getty Images)

We head to the robot workshop home of Marty the robotical.

Sandy Enoch founded the Scottish tech firm Robotical which creates educational robots.

Produced and presented by Dougal Shaw.

(Image: Marty the robot)

Where next for the sometimes tricky relationship between football and crypto companies?

We look at how some of the biggest clubs, and players, have embraced crypto products, and what that means for supporters.

From fan engagement tokens to NFTs, advertised by the world’s biggest stars, to deals with Premier League clubs which turned out to be fraudulent. Is it putting fans in a potentially difficult financial position?

Or just giving them another way to support the team they love?

Produced and presented by Imran Rahman-Jones

(Referee Arda Kardeşler performs the pregame toss with a coin bearing the Bitcoin logo for a match between Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe on May 8, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey. Credit: Getty Images)

Picture a rock 'n' roll icon like Jimmy Page, or Jimmy Hendrix, and they've probably got an electric guitar in their hands.

But, as classic rock - and classic rockers - continue to age, is the guitar industry struggling to attract younger customers?

In six years, electric guitar company Gibson has gone from filing for bankruptcy to opening its first flagship store outside the US.

We hear from Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, Grammy nominated singer James Bay, and one of the world's foremost female luthiers to find out whether the guitar's association with rock 'n' roll has become bad for business.

Produced and presented by Will Chalk.

(Image: Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin performing on stage at Earl's Court, London, May 1975. Jimmy Page is playing a Gibson EDS-1275 double necked guitar. Credit: Getty Images)

Sports betting is a relatively new industry in the US.

Until 2018 you could only legally bet on sports in the state on Nevada, the home to Las Vegas.

New Jersey was the first state to legalise sports betting six years ago and since then, a total of 38 states across America have done the same.

Hannah Mullane looks at how the industry has grown so rapidly and discusses the consequences of the industry which has been allowed to evolve with very little regulation.

(Produced and presented by Hannah Mullane)

(Image: Detroit Lions fans pose prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. Image credit: Getty)

Stella, Dawa and Salome arrived at the Bidi Bidi refugee camp in north-western Uganda with little more than the clothes they were wearing.

Now, all three are entrepreneurs and businesswomen, running thriving businesses and earning enough money to clothe, feed and send their children to school.

Can their stories help development agencies and governments deliver support to those most in need?

(Picture: Salome, picking crops in a field in Uganda. Copyright: Village Enterprise)

Presented and produced by Sam Fenwick

The Nigerian-born businessman tells us about his journey from working in a fast food restaurant and facing racism from some customers, to being inspired to start his own business in London.

He also talks about the influence of his Christian faith on his business decisions - and how it opened up a network of business connections which allowed his property portfolio to grow.

Sanmi Adegoke's Rehoboth group has now undertaken more than 20 major renovation projects and has £35m worth of property assets under its management.

Produced and presented by Dougal Shaw.

(Image: Sanmi Adegoke. Credit: A&O Studios)

The Eurovision Song Contest has transformed itself from a TV show experiment to the world's largest live music event.

160 million people are expected to watch this year's competition in Sweden, as 37 countries take part.

The acts participating will be hoping to become global superstars following the likes of ABBA, Celine Dion and Måneskin.

And outside of the competition many fans around have turned their love of Eurovision into a business: from side-hustles to songwriters. We hear their stories and learn about the economics of having a winning song, and discover the plans for the first ever Eurovision world tour.

Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney

(Image: Malta entry Sarah Bonnici rehearsing Loop at this year's Eurovison. Credit: Connie Cumming/EBU)

In Scotland in the 1980s, a slump in the whisky market brought about the closure of some of the country's most iconic distilleries. These sites become known as 'ghost' distilleries - where spirit production has stopped, but where some stock is still available.

In this programme, Elizabeth Hotson will be discovering why some of these distilleries are now being brought back to life.

She visits the legendary Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay for its much-anticipated re-opening and hears from the master blender there, and she takes a tour of London’s fabled Vintage House.

A whisky writer explains what makes a truly great dram and we learn why investors need to be careful if they’re planning to jump on the whisky bandwagon.

(Picture: A bottle of Port Ellen whisky bottled in 1980. Credit: Elizabeth Hotson/BBC)

Presented and produced by Elizabeth Hotson