BBC Business Daily (Business)

Just what is the future for economics? The financial crisis has shown up some pretty big holes in the economics being taught in schools and universities around the world. What needs to change for economists to find their way back to the real world ?

Business Daily asks if it's ever right to work for free. Some interns who get work experience are paid, but many are not. Is that fair? We speak to German film director Jonas Grosch who made a film about a fictional withdrawal of labour by disgruntled interns, and to Andrew Schwartz, an American entrepreneur who runs a business consultancy and employs students as unpaid interns.

Business Daily looks at the "miracle of Malawi", where a poor African country has handed out fertiliser and seeds to transform its food production. These, luckily combined with heavy rains, led to a doubling of corn production. Other African countries are now hoping to repeat this kind of subsidy programme. But is it too expensive and could the fertilisers damage the environment? Also, the former boss of British Aerospace, Sir Raymond Lygo, talks about morality in business deals.

Business Daily looks at the twin evils of world hunger and climate change, and the role of nitrogen fertilisers. They can help grow more food but they're a major contributor to global warming - so how do you solve that conundrum? And is ruling by fear the most effective management style of all?

Does feeling optimistic make the real economy better? Or does that wish give us rose-tinted spectacles when it comes to looking at the latest company figures? Michael Blastland picks apart how business confidence actually works. And Mahmoud Thiam, Guinea's Mines Minister, explains why his country has the strength to stand up to multinational mining companies. Plus Robert Weissman on how the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 still has much to teach us today.

China may be about to change its exchange rate policy. So what, you say? It might mean you stand more chance of keeping your job - or losing yours if you're Chinese. Plus, how training courses in Africa mean the people running the country aren't around to run the country.

Olafur Thor Hauksson, Iceland's special prosecutor looking at the downfall of its biggest banks, tells Business Daily fraud cases could be brought 'within a year'. And do you hate those constant reminders that pop up on your screen teling you you haven't registered your new software - over and over and over again. Hear from our regular technology commentator, Jeremy Wagstaff.

Business Daily today takes an unsentimental look at Africa and offers some hard-headed solutions. It's not about aid. Nor about fancy schemes. It's about simple ideas that might make a difference. Is the African problem too many African borders?

In Business Daily should world leaders concentrate on fighting the fires of a global recession, or on re-building the worlds financial architecture and stopping beggar my neighbour trade rows? - And we ask, is the fast flow of information of the internet making the whole economic mess worse, does fear spread faster online?

Business Daily has bracing thoughts about the global downturn - one, some companies do emerge stronger from recession - two, parts of the world are still desperate to hire skilled workers - and three, its not the end of the world if you are downsized, retrenched or just plain sacked - it might just be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Here's a thing - is a recession the ideal time to start a business? Business Daily grapples with this counterintuitive idea - and hears from a former boss at Google who reckons you can get ahead - when all around you are panicking!

Business Daily cuts through the controversy over genetically modified crops and reports on how the technology has worked out on the ground. Does it live up to its promise? What about farmers who want to farm in the traditional way? Are fears well-founded?

The credit crisis - on the face of it - has nothing to do with Africa. But will Africa suffer because of it? We hear from the World Bank about fears that some of the worlds poorest will get even poorer.