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Paul Seabright explores our trading past: the impact of a humble metal box - the shipping container. From 2018.

If there's one innovation that deserves a chapter to itself in the modern history of trade, it's the shipping container.

Paul Seabright explores the story of the humble metal box, how it took years for it to become the shape it is today, and why it has had such an impact.

Producer: Chris Ledgard.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2018.

Available now

15 minutes

Last on

Thu 1 May 202500:30
BBC Radio 4

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Broadcasts

  • Wed 10 Jan 201813:45
    BBC Radio 4
  • Wed 29 Jan 202014:15
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 30 Jan 202002:15
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 30 Apr 202511:45
    BBC Radio 4 FM
  • Thu 1 May 202500:30
    BBC Radio 4 FM