What is about advanced capitalism that reproduces primitive Soviet-style customer service experiences? what bank wouldn’t want to help a valued customer stressing out about her lost payment cards and personal data. Or so we thought. Five reasons why call centres end up failing.

“Payday loans” are poisonously expensive debt wrapped in sugar-coated brand and service for poor and desperate people. A constant or frequent loan at 2500% APR is the financial equivalent of a crack addiction.

In the rich world, we’re unlikely to solve our obesity epidemic any time soon. Weight gain will change the financial arithmetic of many products and services. Wise companies will innovate to develop propositions that meet the physical, social and identity needs of overweight consumers.