This week, Ed Balls and George Osborne take on some of the most difficult challenges facing society today. With millions of people of working age not in a job - officially called economically inactive - the pair consider the current costs to society and how to fix them. Columnist for the Times and former MP Matthew Parris asks George directly: Didn’t he see this coming with the introduction of personal independence payments? 

And the Office of Budget Responsibility is meant to be apolitical – but does the government of the day at least have a little sway on its forecast? And considering the size of public spending in the UK, is the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, referred to as DOGE, even more relevant in this country?

Plus, how can psychology play a greater role in politics and policy … 

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Danny Pape

Producer: Rosie Stopher and Miriam Hall 

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford 

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