Victoria Bateman

Why does the interest you pay on your credit card or your mortgage rate go up and down? What’s the Bank of England got to do with it all? In this episode, Tim Harford explains why the banks need to charge you interest when you borrow money and explains why the Bank of England might put interest rates up. Economic historian Victoria Bateman tells us why the Bank of England first lent money to the government. Spoiler alert…. it was to wage war.Everything you need to know about the economy and what it means for you. This podcast will cut through the jargon to bring you clarity and ensure you finally understand all those complicated terms and phrases you hear on the news. Inflation, GDP, Interest rates, and bonds, Tim Harford and friends explain them all. We’ll ensure you understand what’s going on today, why your shopping is getting more expensive or why your pay doesn’t cover your bills. We’ll also bring you surprising histories, from the war-hungry kings who have shaped how things are counted today to the greedy merchants flooding Spain with silver coins. So if your eyes usually glaze over when someone says ‘cutting taxes stimulates growth’, fear no more, we’ve got you covered.Guest: Richard Davies, Professor of Economics at Bristol UniversityProducer: Phoebe KeaneResearchers: Drew Hyndman and Marianna BrainEditor: Clare FordhamTheme music: Don’t Fret, Beats Fresh MusicA BBC Long Form Audio Production for BBC Radio 4

Victoria Bateman, a Fellow at the University of Cambridge and author of "Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power," discusses the overlooked impact of women on economic history. She unveils how bias has erased women's contributions from narratives of prosperity over 12,000 years. Bateman highlights powerful figures like Ching Shih, the pirate leader, and critiques traditional views that limit women's roles. She warns that ignoring women's economic influence risks repeating historical mistakes, advocating for their recognition in shaping societies.

Dr Victoria Bateman, an economic historian and author, rescues overlooked women who shaped economies from prehistory to modern times. She recounts female hunters, textile-based currencies, merchant entrepreneurs like Khadija, engineers and early programmers, and links women’s economic roles to the rise and fall of civilizations. Short, provocative stories challenge the male-focused economic narrative.