Main content
Tim Harford introduces inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world. Invented in 1656, the clock has become a vital part of the economy.
There's no such thing as "the correct time". Like the value of money, it's a convention that derives its usefulness from the widespread acceptance of others. But there is such a thing as accurate timekeeping. That dates from 1656, and a Dutchman named Christiaan Huygens. In the centuries since, as Tim Harford explains, the clock has become utterly essential to almost every area of the modern economy.
Producer: Ben Crighton
Editors: Richard Knight and Richard Vadon.
Last on
Mon 19 Jun 2017
12:04
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
More episodes
Previous
Broadcast
- Mon 19 Jun 2017 12:04Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Download this programme
Listen to this series anytime, anywhere. Full series available now.