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16/06/2012 GMT

How can we best utilize the new connections that bind the world together and transform politics, economics and neuroscience?

On the Forum this week, we explore connections: Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Thomas Friedman argues that the best way for the USA to overcome its present economic difficulties is to re-define its ties with the rest of the world and re-think its educational policy. British economist Paul Ormerod believes that we need to combine standard economic analysis with the psychology of crowds if we want to understand how people in 21st century make decisions. And Korean-American neuroscientist Sebastian Seung has begun a pioneering project to map every single neural connection in our brains, all the many billions of them.

Illustration by Emily Kasriel: connections within our brain and across the world.

Available now

41 minutes

Last on

Sun 17 Jun 2012 11:05GMT

Chapters

  • Part 1

    Thomas Friedman

    Duration: 12:41

  • Paul Ormerod

    Paul Ormerod

    Duration: 10:19

  • Part 2 60 Second Idea

    Paul Ormerod: Ban economists from governments

    Duration: 04:24

  • Sebastian Seung

    Sebastian Seung

    Duration: 13:06

Broadcasts

  • Sat 16 Jun 2012 22:05GMT
  • Sun 17 Jun 2012 01:05GMT
  • Sun 17 Jun 2012 11:05GMT

Do you think political or business leaders need to be charismatic? Or do you prefer highly competent but somewhat stern people?

Do you think political or business leaders need to be charismatic? Or do you prefer highly competent but somewhat stern people?

We鈥檇 love to hear your views on charm and charisma for a future Forum.

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