The Economist Radio (All audio)

This week: an illiberal alliance in central Europe, Thailand’s craze for haunted dolls and how to sniff out the perfect pinot See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rising health costs, ageing populations and the impact of out-of-date technology are just some of the challenges faced by the health systems in developed countries See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Economist’s language column will appear every fortnight in the print edition. Lane Greene talks about the science, history and controversies he has covered so far See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Scientists identify the genes that are driving schizophrenia and as touchscreens become more responsive, imaginative new uses may emerge See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A deal struck between Google and the British government over back payments signals change in the way multinationals will be taxed, though it is proving controversial See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In his new book, John Andrews, former foreign correspondent for The Economist, discusses the history, evolution and persistence of terrorism and global warfare See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week: why to be optimistic about podcasts, ranking of America’s university professors and the benefits of believing in divine retribution See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Anne McElvoy speaks with the president of the International Rescue Committee to evaluate how the world is responding to the worst refugee crisis since the second world war See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A mosquito-borne virus is linked to a worrying number of birth defects in Brazil and has social media expanded the number of friendships we can maintain? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our energy and economics editors explain why the plummeting oil price may not be as good as usual for the world economy and our Buttonwood columnist discusses his award-winning article on the deep-rooted problems of the financial sector See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week: unpacking the myths of marriage, why working in a tech startup isn’t all free lunches and bean bags and how pollution speeds up homing pigeons See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The author of “Humans Need Not Apply" discusses the impact of the artificial-intelligence revolution on peoples' jobs, wealth and happiness See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How big data can help tackle air pollution and a bright idea makes for a better light bulb See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Worries about the Chinese economy continue to dog global markets. Famous economists and investors are making grim predictions. Is 2016 the year of doom and gloom? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week: a gene-editing company files for an IPO, why accurate growth forecasting remains elusive and the death of the European night club See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Paul Wallace, The Economist’s European economics editor, explores the sources of the euro crisis and assesses the risks that the single currency still faces in his new book See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Scientists are learning more than ever about black holes as astronomical objects and an American firm brings a real McFly hoverboard to market See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Economist’s burger benchmark aims to make exchange-rate theory more digestible. Our correspondents chew over the reasons some currencies appear as cheap as chips See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week: the history of election betting, what whaling taught the world of finance and a glance back at 1916 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This year saw a boom in dark books about the future of America, new translated fiction and accounts of the battle of Waterloo. Our correspondents discuss the finest books on their shelves See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.