It was the year that should not have been. Europe was going to stop the debt rot, contagion would be brought under control, and the headlines would be about growth and recovery. But in 2011, none of that happened, in fact, things got worse.

Growth stories were overshadowed by a North Atlantic economic crisis, which still has no real end in sight.

We also take an in-depth look back at employment figures of 2011, showing who has a job and who has not. The numbers also highlight business confidence, economic conditions, and whether everyday businesses employing everyday people are actually flourishing or not.

The figures show employment figures are down in the US; the UK has a record high of 16-24-year-olds out of work; and Spain has absolutely brutal levels of unemployment.

Experts from across the world join the show to discuss the year's financial crisis. Guests include: Mikio Kumada, a global strategist at LGT Capital Management; Mthuli Ncube, a chief economist at the African Development Bank; and Andrew Dell, the head of Debt Capital Markets for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, at HSBC.

Counting the Cost can be seen each week at the following times GMT: Friday: 2230; Saturday: 0930; Sunday: 0330; Monday: 1630. Click here for more on Counting the Cost.