Welcome back to the home of the oxymoron. Evil genius. He asked the newspaper to print his obituary early so he'd enjoy it. That's like hiding at your own funeral. Yeah, it's a big, great gig. I'm Russell Kane. Join me to weigh in on whether the biggest players in history are more evil or genius. Becoming that rich, I'd say that at some level of genius. It also helps

that it's a long time ago, right? It's like the podcast version of telling your kids the ice cream

van plays music when it's out of ice cream. Listen to evil genius on BBC sounds.

We're used to hearing about the state of the economy, but what about the discipline of economics

itself? Thomas Carlyle once called it the dismal science, but what about the discipline of economics itself? Thomas Carlyle once

called it the dismal science, but what role should economics play in our thinking as we try to

plot the right course in a turbulent post-crash world, with plenty of challenges coming at us

from automation and technology? The role of state and market and how they interact with each other

has been contentious ever since Adam Smith's invisible hand, suggested that pursuit of self-interest

might do more for society than well-meaning attempts to produce good ends. One of my guests

tonight reckons capitalism now needs a reinvention. Questions about the intersection

of politics and economics feel a lot more lively in the wake of the global financial crash and

the continuing questions about the causes and how to mop up the effects. This week arguments

about wealth, tax and morality pervaded the national debate, as HSBC's past tax

avoidance strategies on behalf of its wealthy clients hit the headlines. But the big questions

of economics might go further than just a blame game. What do we really want from those who

practice the dismal science or have a strong view on what it should do. No shortage of those with me tonight.

Wendy Carlin is Professor of Economics at University College London and leader of the

core project which campaigns to reform the way economics is taught in universities. Richard Davis

is economics editor of the economist, an author of a series of articles, arguing that people trained in economic

methods are the new invisible hand shaping unexpected areas of our lives. He joins us from

the BBC studio in New York. Luke Johnson is an entrepreneur with a very varied portfolio.

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