Episodes
| Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20241123 | 20241124 (WS) 20241125 (WS) |  | |
| 20250201 | 20250202 (WS) 20250203 (WS) | Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. | |
| 20250208 | 20250209 (WS) 20250210 (WS) | Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. | |
| 20250215 | 20250216 (WS) 20250217 (WS) | Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. | |
| 20250222 | Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life | ||
| 20250222 | 20250223 (WS) 20250224 (WS) | Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. | |
| 20250301 | Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life | ||
| 20250301 | 20250302 (WS) | Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life | |
| 20250301 | 20250303 (WS) | Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life | |
| A Boy Meets Girl Meets Stats Story | 20231125 | 20231126 (WS) 20231127 (WS) | Veronica Carlin is a data scientist who loves romantic comedies. But she had a hunch about those movies, that there aren't many women like her, women in STEM - science, technology, engineering and maths – taking the lead roles. So she set out on a maths quest to find out what's what. Presenter: Kate Lamble Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot (Picture: A young couple with a heart-shaped balloon on the street Credit: Cultura RM Exclusive/Spark Photographic / Getty) A data scientist takes on rom com films to see how women in STEM are represented A data scientist takes on rom com films to see how women in STEM are represented. |
| A Pocket-size History Of The Calculator | 20240203 | 20240204 (WS) 20240205 (WS) | How was the calculator invented? How did it go from something the size of a table to something that could be carried in your pocket, the must-have gadget of the 1970's and 80's? Tim Harford unpicks the history of the calculator with Keith Houston, author of Empire of the Sum: The Rise and Reign of the Pocket Calculator. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: Hal Haines Editor: Richard Vadon (Technology evolution: old metal mechanical calculator 1930s, vintage plastic calculator 1970s, modern digital smartphone calculator 2000s. Credit: Getty Images) Tim Harford explores the history of calculators from clockwork to the Kashio brothers Tim Harford explores the history of calculators, from clockwork to the Kashio brothers, with author Keith Houston |
| Are 672 Billion Pounds Of Corn Eaten In The Us Every Year? | 20241005 | 20241006 (WS) |  National Geographic magazine recently wrote that “people in the United States eat more than 672 billion pounds of corn per year, which breaks down to more than 2,000 pounds per person annually”. Is this really true? Tim Harford investigates all the things that we don't eat, that are counted in this number. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Bethan Ashmead Latham Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: Giles Aspen Editor: Richard Vadon A lot of corn is eaten in the United States, but is it really 2.5kg per person per day? |
| Are Companies Making More Money From Their Customers? | 20240817 | 20240818 (WS) | Recent reports claimed the average global mark-up, the difference between the price of production and the price that product is sold for, rose from 7% in 1980 to 59% by 2020. So is this true? Are some companies choosing to charge us more than ever for their products? We investigate the accuracy of these claims, and which companies are responsible with the help of Jan Eeckhout a Professor of Economics at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. Presenter: Kate Lamble Producer: Beth Ashmead Latham Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate claims mark-ups are larger than ever We investigate claims companies' markups are eight times bigger than they were forty years ago |
| Are Falling Marriage Rates Causing Happiness To Fall In The Us? | 20240518 | 20240519 (WS) | It's long been known that marriage is associated with happiness in survey data. But are falling marriage rates in the US dragging down the mood of the whole nation? We investigate the statistical relationships with Professor Sam Peltzman from the University of Chicago, and Professor John Helliwell, from the University of British Columbia. Presenter: Tom Colls Reporter: Natasha Fernandes Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Vadon Investigating the relationship between matrimony and melancholy. |
| Are There More Possible Games Of Chess Than Atoms In The Universe? | 20240120 | 20240121 (WS) 20240122 (WS) | We investigate how the vast possibilities in a game of chess compare to the vastness of the observable universe. Dr James Grime helps us understand the Shannon number – a famous figure on the chess side of the equation - and astronomer Professor Catherine Heymans takes on the entire observable universe. Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Debbie Richford and Nathan Gower Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: Andy Fell Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate how the vast possibilities in chess compare to the vastness of the universe |
| Are Women 14 Times More Likely To Die In Natural Disasters? | 20240727 | 20240728 (WS) | The idea that women outnumber men by 14 to 1 as casualties of natural disasters has been repeated in newspapers and online for years - the UN have even used this statistic. But when you track down the source, the research behind this claim leaves much to be desired. Presenter: Kate Lamble Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith We unpick the idea that women outnumber men by 14 to 1 as casualties of natural disasters We unpick the idea that women outnumber men by 14 to 1 as the casualties of natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. |
| Are Women In The Uk The Biggest Binge Drinkers In The World? | 20231118 | 20231119 (WS) 20231120 (WS) | We check out suspect stats on boozing Brits and fishy figures on fishing fleets in the South China Sea. With the help of Professor John Holmes from the University of Sheffield's School of Medicine and Population Health and Simon Funge-Smith, a senior fishery officer at the FAO. Presenter and producer: Charlotte McDonald Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot Checking out stats on boozing Brits and fishing fleets in the South China Sea. |
| Can Chocolate Be Better Than Salad? | 20231223 | 20231224 (WS) 20231225 (WS) | We investigate a nutritional conundrum –can chocolate ever be better for you than salad? Today we dive in to one of our listener's family debates and try to find an answer, with the help of nutrition experts Dr David Katz and Professor Bernadette Moore. Reporter: Paul Connolly Researcher: Perisha Kudhail Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon (Picture: A pyramid made of chocolate and salad Credit: Gandee Vasan / Getty Images) We investigate a nutritional conundrum - can chocolate ever be better for you than salad? We investigate a nutritional conundrum – can chocolate ever be better for you than salad? |
| Can Elon Musk Save The Us Government $2 Trillion? | 20241130 | 20241201 (WS) 20241202 (WS) | 
The world richest man, Elon Musk, will co-head the department and has pledged to cut ‘at least $2 trillion' to ‘balance the budget'. But is this possible? We talk to Professor Linda Bilmes about what DOGE could or couldn't do and how she balanced the budget in the 1990's. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Producer: Lizzy McNeill Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Mix: Andrew Mills Editor: Richard Vadon Image: Elon Musk on stage before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on Sunday, October 27, 2024. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) We look at whether DOGE can successfully balance the US budget. We look at whether DOGE - the Department of Government Efficiency - can successfully balance the US budget. |
| Can Maths Prove The Existence Of Aliens? | 20231111 | 20231112 (WS) 20231113 (WS) | Are we alone in the universe – and if not, how many other civilisations might there be? Remarkable images and data sent back to Earth by the James Webb telescope have given a new impetus to a well-worn debate. We ask how far mathematics – and in particular a famous equation called the Drake Equation – can be used to answer one of the most fundamental questions we face. Paul Connolly investigates with the help of Catherine Heymans, Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Professor at the University of Edinburgh and Bill Diamond, President and CEO of the SETI Institute in California. Presenter: Paul Connolly Producers: Paul Connolly and Jon Bithrey Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Engineer: David Crackles (Image: : A cluster of young stars, surrounded by clouds of interstellar gas and dust, in a nebula, located in the constellation Carina. Credit: Reuters) We look a famous equation which tries to explain whether life exists in outer space We look at a famous equation which tries to explain whether life exists elsewhere in the universe |
| Can redheads handle 25% more pain than brunettes? | 20250118 | 
What has the colour of your hair got to do with your capacity to withstand pain?
We investigate the claim, which regularly circulates on social media, that natural redheads are 25% tougher than their brunette peers.
Pain expert Jeff Mogil explains how it all comes down to something called MC1R.
Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
We investigate if people with red hair have a hidden pain-blocking superpower Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life We investigate the claim that people with red hair have a hidden pain-blocking superpower
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| Can Redheads Handle 25% More Pain Than Brunettes? | 20250118 | 20250119 (WS) 20250120 (WS) |
We investigate the claim, which regularly circulates on social media, that natural redheads are 25% tougher than their brunette peers. Pain expert Jeff Mogil explains how it all comes down to something called MC1R. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Producer: Lizzy McNeill Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Mix: Bob Nettles We investigate if people with red hair have a hidden pain-blocking superpower Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life We investigate the claim that people with red hair have a hidden pain-blocking superpower Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. |
| China's Missing Numbers | 20231216 | 20231217 (WS) 20231218 (WS) | How many young people are unemployed? How much debt does the government owe? How many people have died from Covid? These are questions that many governments will keep regularly updated. But in China they have disappeared. We investigate the reasons behind China's missing numbers. Reporter: Celia Hatton Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Richard Vadon (Picture: Chinese flag behind a graph with statistics Credit: Igor Kutyaev/iStock/Getty Images Plus) How the Chinese state make inconvenient statistics disappear How the Chinese state make inconvenient statistics on youth unemployment and covid deaths disappear. |
| Data For India | 20240601 | 20240602 (WS) | India's election has been running since 19 April. With results imminent on 4th June, More or Less talks with Chennai based data communicator Rukmini S. She founded Data for India, a new website designed to make socioeconomic data on India easier to find and understand. She talks us through the changing trends to help give a better picture of the type of country the winning party will govern. Producers: Bethan Ashmead and Nathan Gower Sound Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Richard Vadon (Crowds at an election rally in Lucknow India, May 13, 2024. Credit: Hindustan Times/Getty Images) Changing India in numbers: what type of country will the next administration lead? As India awaits its election results, we talk to data communicator Rukmini S about India's changing population |
| Did 20 Million Votes Really Go Missing In The Us Election? | 20241116 | 20241117 (WS) 20241118 (WS) | 
A graph went viral on social media that appeared to show there were 20 million more votes cast in 2020 than in the 2024 election. Where had these supposedly “missing” votes gone? Conspiracy theorists on both sides of the political spectrum began shouting claims of fraud. The answer, it turns out, is rather more straightforward. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Producer: Lizzy McNeill Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Mix: Hal Haines Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate a viral graph that suggests turnout was drastically lower than in 2020 We investigate a viral graph that suggests turnout was drastically lower than in 2020. |
| Did Mussolini Make The Trains Run On Time? | 20241221 | 20241222 (WS) 20241223 (WS) | 
Mussolini's dictatorship in Italy was full of atrocities, brutal suppression and propaganda. Did it also create a more efficient railway network? We speak to Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat about the truth of the claim and why the Mussolini regime wanted us to believe it. Presenter: Lizzy McNeill Producer: Lizzy McNeill Researcher: Esme Winterbotham Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Master: James Beard Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison. Image: Benito Mussolini in his train studying maps. (Photo by ullstein picture/ullstein picture via Getty Images) Fact checking the fascist regime. Were reports of punctual trains in Mussolini's Italy, the truth, lies, or something else? |
| Did One In 10 Greeks Die In World War Two? | 20241207 | 20241208 (WS) 20241209 (WS) | 
There's an often repeated number that appears to capture the brutality of this time – that 10% of the Greek population died during the war. We investigate where this statistic comes from and whether it is true. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate if 10 percent of the Greek population died during the second world war We investigate if 10 percent of the Greek population died during the second world war. |
| Did Trump make billions with his meme-coin? | 20250125 | 
Just before being inaugurated as US president for the second time, Donald Trump launched something called a “meme-coin”.
This is a bespoke cryptocurrency token featuring a picture of Donald Trump. A billion of them may eventually be created.
Newspaper headlines claimed that the Trump meme-coin had made the president billions of dollars wealthier. But it is far from clear that this is the case.
We investigate if the US president\u2019s crypto is really worth tens of billions of dollars. Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life We investigate if the US president’s crypto is really worth tens of billions of dollars.
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| Did Trump Make Billions With His Meme-coin? | 20250125 | 20250126 (WS) 20250127 (WS) |
This is a bespoke cryptocurrency token featuring a picture of Donald Trump. A billion of them may eventually be created. Newspaper headlines claimed that the Trump meme-coin had made the president billions of dollars wealthier. But it is far from clear that this is the case. We investigate if the US president's crypto is really worth tens of billions of dollars. Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. |
| Do \u2018pig Butchering' Cyber Scams Make As Much As Half Cambodia's Gdp? | 20240622 | 20240623 (WS) | So-called “pig butchering ? scams take billions of dollars from people around the globe. But do the cyber scams run from compounds in Cambodia really take an amount of money equivalent to half that country's GDP? We investigate how the scale of these criminal operations has been calculated. Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Andrew Garratt Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate the money made by an international cybercrime operations. We investigate an estimate of the money made by an international cybercrime operation. |
| Do 79% Of Swedish Asylum Seekers Go On Holiday To The Country They Fled From? | 20250111 | 20250112 (WS) 20250113 (WS) | 
It's used to argue that recent refugees are being disingenuous about the danger they face in the country they have fled from. But when you look at the survey the claim is based on, you see the stat in a very different way. We speak to Hjalmar Strid, who ran the survey for polling company Novus, and Tino Sanandaji from Bulletin, the online news site which published it. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate a refugee claim that is often being taken out of context. Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life |
| Do 85% Of The World's Population Practice A Religion? | 20240921 | 20240922 (WS) | We don't usually do god on More or Less, but one listener got in touch to ask us to investigate a stat used by an Anglican priest on a BBC radio programme. Speaking on the “Thought for the Day” slot, Reverend Lucy Winkett said that around 85% of the world's population practice a religion. Is this true? We speak to Conrad Hackett, from the Pew Research Center, and the person whose research is the source for the claim. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Natasha Fernandes Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Vadon Counting religions across the globe - is the world getting more religious or less? Counting religions across the globe – is the world getting more religious or less? |
| Do Fossil Fuels Get $7 Trillion In Subsidies? | 20241123 | 20241124 (WS) 20241125 (WS) |  Governments around the world have promised to fight climate change. But are they also pumping an absolutely massive amount of money into subsidies for fossil fuels? In 2022, an IMF working paper estimated that global subsidies for fossil fuels totalled $7 trillion. But when you dig into that research, you find that this number might not mean what you think it does. We explain how they reached that conclusion, with the help of Angela Picciariello from the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and Nate Vernon, one of the co-authors of the IMF paper. We investigate a huge estimate for how much governments pay to support coal, gas and oil |
| Do Indian Women Own 11% Of The World's Gold? | 20231104 | 20231105 (WS) 20231106 (WS) | The cultural importance of gold in India as a symbol of wealth, prosperity and safety is well known – but how much do Indians actually own? Reporter Perisha Kudhail looks at a widely circulated claim about Indian women owning 11% of the world's gold, with the help of Delhi based journalist Mridu Bhandari and Joshua Saul, CEO of the Pure Gold Company. Presenter: Ben Carter Reporter and Producer: Perisha Kudhail Series Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineer: James Beard (Image: A saleswoman shows gold bangles to a customer at a jewellery showroom in Kolkata. Credit: Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri/File Photo) The cultural importance of gold is well known - but how much do Indians actually own? |
| Do One In Five Young Americans Think The Holocaust Is A Myth? | 20240504 | 20240505 (WS) | Polling by YouGov made headlines around the world when it suggested 20% of young adults in the US thought the holocaust was a myth. But polling experts at the Pew Research Centre thought the result might not be accurate, due to problems with the kind of opt-in polling it was based on. They tried to replicate the finding, and did not get the same answer. We speak to Andrew Mercer from the Pew Research Centre and YouGov chief scientist Douglas Rivers. Presenter /series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Richard Vadon How problems with opt-in polling can lead to controversial headlines |
| Do We Eat A Credit Card's Worth Of Microplastic Each Week? | 20240824 | 20240825 (WS) | The claim we all swallow 5.5 grams of microplastic each week – the same as the weight of a credit card – has been repeated by charities, newspapers and the World Economic Forum. But when you understand how this number was calculated, and the range of possible answers for the amount of plastic you eat, you might not want to repeat it yourself. Professor Jamie Woodward from the University of Manchester explains what's what. Presenter: Kate Lamble Producer: Beth Ashmead Latham Researcher: Ajai Singh Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: Giles Aspen Editor: Richard Vadon We look at whether humans really ingest five grams of microplastic on a weekly basis We look at the calculations behind the widely reported statistic that we eat over five grams of microplastics each week |
| Do We Have Enough Clothes For The Next Six Generations? | 20241109 | 20241110 (WS) 20241111 (WS) | 
That's a claim that has been percolating around the internet recently, that there are already enough clothes for the next six generations. Tim Harford and Beth Ashmead Latham explore the source of this claim and, with help from Sabina Lawreniuk from Nottingham University, find that the evidence behind it is far from persuasive. Presenter: Tim Harford and Bethan Ashmead Latham Producer: Bethan Ashmead Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Mix: Annie Gardiner Editor: Richard Vadon We delve into the stats on the scale of the fashion industry We delve into the stats on the scale of the fashion industry. |
| Do We See 10,000 Adverts Per Day? | 20240113 | 20240114 (WS) 20240115 (WS) | How many adverts does the average person see in a day? If you search for this question online, the surprising answer is that we might see thousands – up to 10,000. However, the idea that we see thousands of adverts is a strange and confusing one, without any good research behind it. We investigate the long history of these odd numbers, with the help of Sam Anderson from The Drum and J Walker Smith from Kantar. Presenter: Tim Harford Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate the claim that each of us sees thousands of adverts every single day We investigate the claim that each of us sees thousands of adverts every single day. |
| Does A Language Die Every Two Weeks? | 20240803 | 20240804 (WS) | Researchers have catalogued 7,164 languages spoken around the world - some are used daily by billions. Half are spoken by less than 8000 people. The death of a language, when it's no longer spoken as a first language by anyone living is a deeply significant moment in the cultural life of communities. Multiple sources including the UN and National Geographic magazine have claimed this happens every two weeks. But we have reasons to be suspicious about that statistic. Gary Simons, executive editor of the Ethnologue language catalogue, explains where this idea came from. Presenter: Kate Lamble Producer: Natasha Fernandes Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Languages are disappearing. We investigate claims of how often this happens Languages are disappearing. We investigate claims of how often this happens. |
| Does Endurance Sport Harm Your Heart? | 20231209 | 20231210 (WS) 20231211 (WS) | Exercise is good for you in all kinds of ways, there is no medicine like it to prevent a whole range of illnesses. But for some endurance athletes, exercise also comes with increased risk of a heart condition called atrial fibrillation. We look for the right way to think about the risks around exercise. Reporter: Paul Connolly Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Richard Vadon (Picture: A cyclist training in the mountains Credit: anton5146/Getty Creative) We investigate the connection between high levels of exercise and arrhythmia We investigate the connection between high levels of exercise and abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia. |
| Does The Russian Government Really Spend 40% Of Its Budget On The Military? | 20240316 | 20240317 (WS) 20240318 (WS) | According to the head of the British military, the Russian government spends 40% of its budget on its war machine. But is it true? With the help of Professor Bettina Renz from Nottingham University and Dr Richard Connolly from The Royal United Services Institute, Olga Smirnova investigates the figure. Presenter: Tom Colls Producer: Olga Smirnova Production Co-ordinator Katie Morrison Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Richard Vadon Image: Russian Military Perform Victory Day Parade Night Rehearsal in Moscow credit: (Photo by Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images) We investigate how much the Russian state is spending on the war in Ukraine. Sound: Graham Puddifoot (Photo: Russian military perform Victory Day parade night rehearsal in Moscow. Credit: Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images) |
| Federer's 54%: Tennis Stats Explained | 20240713 | 20240714 (WS) | How can tennis star Roger Federer have won only 54% of the points he played, but been the best player in the world? Jeff Sackmann, the tennis stats brain behind tennisabstract.com, explains to Tim Harford how probability works in the sport. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Vadon How Federer became the best in the world winning just over half the points he played How Roger Federer became the best tennis player in the world by winning just over half the points he played. |
| Greedy Jobs And The Gender Pay Gap | 20231014 | 20231015 (WS) | Harvard professor Claudia Goldin has become only the third woman to win the Nobel Economics Prize for her groundbreaking research on women's employment and pay. Tim Harford discusses her work showing how gender differences in pay and work have changed over the last 200 years and why the gender pay gap persists to this day. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineer: David Crackles (Picture: Claudia Goldin at Havard University Credit: Reuters / Reba Saldanha) Tim Harford discusses the work of Nobel Economics prize winner Claudia Goldin Tim Harford discusses the groundbreaking work of Nobel Economics prize winner Claudia Goldin |
| Has Milei Fixed Argentina's Inflation Problem? | 20240427 | 20240428 (WS) | Libertarian populist Javier Milei won the presidential election in Argentina on a promise austerity and economic “shock ? measures for the ailing economy. Just a few months in, some are hailing the falling rate of inflation as showing those measures are working. Economist Monica de Bolle, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, explains whether that thinking is correct. Presenter/producer: Tom Colls Producer: Ajai Singh Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Richard Vadon. What falling inflation means for Milei's austerity plan and economic shock measures What the falling inflation rate means for President Milei's austerity plan and economic “shock ? measures. |
| How A Tick Box Doubled The Us Maternal Mortality Rates | 20240629 | 20240630 (WS) | The US has been portrayed as in the grip of a maternal mortality crisis. In contrast to most other developed nations, the rate of maternal deaths in the US has been going up since the early 2000s. But why? With the help of Saloni Dattani, a researcher at Our World in Data, Tim Harford explores how a gradual change in the way the data was gathered lies at the heart of the problem. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: Emma Harth Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate changes to the way the US gathers their maternal mortality statistics The US has been portrayed as in the grip of a maternal mortality crisis. We investigate how a gradual change in the way the data was gathered lies at the heart of the problem |
| How Many Americans Live 'paycheck To Paycheck'? | 20241214 | 20241215 (WS) 20241216 (WS) | 
That's what various US politicians and news outlets keep suggesting. They can't stop using a statistic about people living “paycheck to paycheck”. But what does this really mean? We go behind the headlines to unpick the numbers. Contributor: Ben Krauss, journalist Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Producer: Vicky Baker and Lizzy McNeill Series Producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Engineer: Andrew Mills Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate a number that has been making headlines in the US. |
| How Much Money Do The 'ndrangheta Mafia Make? | 20240106 | 20240107 (WS) 20240108 (WS) | The ‘Ndrangheta are one of Italy's biggest and most dangerous criminal gangs. One piece of research suggested they have an annual turnover of €53bn - more than McDonalds and Deutsche Bank combined. But is that number realistic? Professor Anna Sergi and Professor Francesco Calderoni help us figure out what kind of number makes sense. Reporter: Perisha Kudhail Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon (Picture: Human hands with strings controlling diagram. Credit: Boris Zhitkov/Getty Images) We investigate whether one criminal group could have a turnover of billions of dollars We investigate whether one criminal group could have a turnover of tens of billions of dollars. |
| Is Increasing Turbulence Making Flying More Dangerous? | 20240720 | 20240721 (WS) | Is climate change making turbulence more dangerous for people taking flights around the world? That's what one listener asked, following a terrifying turbulence incident which left one person dead and more than 20 injured on a flight to Singapore. We speak to turbulence expert Paul Williams, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading, to understand what is going on. Presenter: Kate Lamble Producer: Nathan Gower Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Vadon Exploring the link between bumpy flights and climate change. |
| Is Intermittent Fasting Going To Kill You? | 20240525 | 20240526 (WS) | News stories earlier in the year appeared to suggest that time restricted eating – where you consume all your meals in an 8 hour time window – was associated with a 91% increase in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. But is this true? Tim Harford looks into the claim with the help of Cardiologist Dr Donald Lloyd-Jones, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University in the US. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Vadon Investigating research which suggested time restricted eating increased the risk of death Investigating research which suggested that time restricted eating increased the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. |
| Is Loneliness As Bad For You As Smoking? | 20240406 | 20240407 (WS) | Is loneliness as bad for you as smoking 15 cigarettes per day? That's the claim circulating on social media. We trace this stat back to its source and speak to the scientist behind the original research on which it is based, Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad. Presenter / series producer: Tom Colls Reporter: Perisha Kudhail Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Richard Vadon The connection between being alone and an early death The statistical connection between being alone and an early death. |
| Is Misinformation Being Spread About A Review Of Trans Youth Medicine? | 20240420 | 20240421 (WS) | The Cass Review is an independent report on the state of gender identity services for under-18s in England's NHS. It found children had been let down by a lack of research and 'remarkably weak' evidence on medical interventions in gender care. But before it was even released, claims were circulating online that it ignored 98% of the evidence in reaching its conclusion. Is that claim true? We speak to Dr Hilary Cass, the author of the review, Prof Catherine Hewitt of York University, who analysed the scientific research, and Kamran Abbasi, editor in chief of the British Medical Journal. Presenter: Kate Lamble Producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon Investigating claims that the Cass Review ignored 98% of valuable evidence Investigating claims that the Cass Review into gender identity services for under-18s in England's NHS ignored the vast majority of evidence. |
| Is Oxfam Right About The World's Richest And Poorest People? | 20240127 | 20240128 (WS) 20240129 (WS) | We investigate Oxfam's claim that “since 2020, the five richest men in the world have seen their fortunes more than double, while almost five billion people have seen their wealth fall ?. With the help of Johan Norberg, Historian and Author of ideas and Felix Salmon, Financial Correspondent at Axios, we explore the figures behind the wealth of the richest and uncover what it really tells us about the world's financial markets. And Charles Kenny, senior fellow at the Centre for Global Development in Washington DC, helps us unpick why, when looking at the world's poorest people, measurements of wealth don't always tell us what we really need to know. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: Hal Haines Editor: Richard Vadon (image: Elon Musk at the Viva Tech fair in Paris June 2023. Credit: Nathan Laine/Getty Images) We investigate how Oxfam use wealth stats to illustrate global inequality We investigate how Oxfam use wealth stats to illustrate the inequality between the world's richest five people and poorest 5 billion. |
| Is Planet Earth Getting Greener? | 20240810 | 20240811 (WS) | Canadian psychologist and culture war commentator Jordan Peterson says planet Earth has got 20% greener in the last 20 years. But satellite data tells a different story. We investigate the correct number, with the help of Dr Chi Chen, from Rutgers University in the US. Presenter: Kate Lamble Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Giles Aspen Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Jordan Peterson says Earth has greened by 20% in 20 years. Is he right? |
| Is Public Speaking Really Our Biggest Fear? | 20240309 | 20240310 (WS) 20240311 (WS) | For over 50 years it's been widely reported that speaking before a group is people's number one fear. But is it really true? With the help of Dr Karen Kangas Dwyer, a former Professor in the School of Communication at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Dr Christopher Bader, Professor of Sociology at Chapman University, Tim Harford tracks the source of the claim back to the 1970's and explores whether it was true then, and whether it's true today. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon Picture Credit: vchal via Getty Tim Harford investigates the claim that public speaking is people's number one fear. Is public speaking really people's number one fear? Tim Harford tracks the claim back to the 1970's and explores whether it was true then, and whether it's true today. |
| Is Reading For Pleasure The Single Biggest Factor In How Well A Child Does In Life? | 20240511 | 20240512 (WS) | If a child loves reading, how big a difference does that make to their future success? In a much-repeated claim, often sourced to a 2002 OECD report, it is suggested that it makes the biggest difference there is – that reading for pleasure is the biggest factor in future success. But is that true? We speak to Miyako Ikeda from the OECD and Professor Alice Sullivan from University College London. Presenter / series producer: Tom Colls Reporter / producer: Debbie Richford Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Richard Vadon What research says about the connection between reading and success in later life. What the research says about the connection between reading engagement and someone's success in later life. |
| Is Trump Right About Violent Crime In Venezuela And The Us? | 20241026 | 20241027 (WS) 20241028 (WS) |  On the campaign trail for the US presidency, former president Donald Trump has been saying that the US is becoming a more dangerous than Venezuela. He also claims that the crime data for the US that the FBI collects is missing the most violent cities. Is he right? Tim Harford investigates, with the help of Bastian Herre from Our World in Data and Jay Albanese from Virginia Commonwealth University. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Bethan Ashmead Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound Mix: Annie Gardiner Editor: Richard Vadon Donald Trump says Venezuela is becoming safer than the US. Is he right? |
| More or Less | 20250215 | Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life. Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life | |
| Nate Silver: Do Risk-takers Run The World? | 20240914 | 20240915 (WS) | Big stakes poker player and elections analyst Nate Silver is no stranger to a calculated risk. In his new book, On The Edge, he makes the case that people willing to take massive calculated risks are winning in the modern economy. Tim Harford talks to Nate about the mindset that's driving hedge fund managers, crypto true-believers and silicon valley investors. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Beth Ashmead Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Poker player and polling analyst Nate Silver on his new book Poker player and polling superstar Nate Silver on his new book On The Edge: The Art of Risking Everything |
| Nba Basketball: Is Height More Important Than Skill? | 20240224 | 20240225 (WS) 20240226 (WS) | In the NBA, the US professional basketball league, the average player is a shade over 6ft 6 inches tall. So just how much does being very tall increase a man's chances of becoming a professional player? Tim Harford talks to data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, author of Who Makes the NBA?: Data-Driven Answers to Basketball's Biggest Questions. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: David Crackles Editor: Richard Vadon (Image: Charlotte Hornets v New York Knicks. Credit: Focus on Sport/Getty Images) How much does a man's height affect his chances of becoming an NBA basketball player? How much does a man's height affect his chances of becoming a professional basketball player in the NBA? Tim Harford talks to Seth Stephens-Davidowitz to slam dunk the numbers. |
| Nobel Prize: Why Are Some Countries So Much Richer Than Others? | 20241019 | 20241020 (WS) |  The question of why some countries are rich and some poor has been described as the most important question in economics. Perhaps that is why the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson for their work on the importance of institutions in the economic fortunes of nation states. Tim Harford explains the economic theory that underpins their award. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Reporter: Tim Harford Producer: Bethan Ashmead Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: Giles Aspen Editor: Richard Vadon Image: The door to the Swedish Academy is pictured ahead of the announcement of the laureate of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature in Stockholm, Sweden (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images) Why Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics |
| Numbers Of The Year - Part 2 | 20250104 | 20250105 (WS) 20250106 (WS) |  We asked and you responded, this edition of ‘numbers of the year' are from you. our loyal listeners. We scoured the inboxes to find three fascinating numbers that say something about the world we live in now and put them to our experts. Tune if you want to hear about rising global temperatures, what Taylor Swift has in common with 65 years olds and facts about fax (machines). Contributors: Amanda Maycock, University of Leeds Jennifer Dowd, University of Oxford Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Reporter: Lizzy McNeill Producer: Vicky Baker and Lizzy McNeill Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineer: Rod Farquhar. Our listeners favourite numbers of 2024. Did we break the Paris agreement and is the German economy run by fax? |
| Numbers Of The Year 2023 | 20231230 | 20231231 (WS) 20240101 (WS) | Each year we ask some of our favourite statistically-minded people for their numbers of the year. Here they are - from the population of India to the results of a first division football match. Contributors: Hannah Ritchie, Our World in Data Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, Cambridge University Rob Eastaway, maths author Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon (Picture: Colourful numbers on blue background Credit: Tanja Ivanova / Getty Images) Hand-picked stats that tell you something interesting about the world Hand-picked stats on energy, population and first division football that tell you something interesting about the world. |
| Numbers Of The Year 2024 | 20241228 | 20241229 (WS) 20241230 (WS) | 
We present them to you - from falling birth rates in India to children saved by vaccines. Contributors: RukminiS, Data for India Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, Cambridge University, Hannah Ritchie, Our World in Data. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Producers: Lizzy McNeill and Vicky Baker Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineer: Donald McDonald and Rod Farquhar We ask experts about their favourite stats from 2024. What rate does the number 2 describe in India? |
| Numbers Of The Year: - Part Two | 20250104 | 20250105 (WS) 20250106 (WS) | We asked and you responded. This edition of ‘numbers of the year' are from you, our loyal listeners. We scoured the inboxes to find three fascinating numbers that say something about the world we live in now and put them to our experts. Tune if you want to hear about rising global temperatures, what Taylor Swift has in common with 65 years olds and facts about fax (machines). Contributors: Amanda Maycock, University of Leeds Jennifer Dowd, University of Oxford Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Reporter: Lizzy McNeill Producer: Vicky Baker and Lizzy McNeill Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar Our listeners' favourite numbers of 2024 Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life Our listeners' favourite numbers of 2024. Did we break the Paris agreement, and is the German economy run by fax? |
| Remembering Daniel Kahneman | 20240330 | 20240331 (WS) | Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel prize-winning behavioural economist and More or Less hero, has died at the age of 90. Tim Harford explains his ideas and influence. Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Hal Haines Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Richard Vadon Tim Harford on the great social scientist, who has died at the age of 90 Tim Harford on the Nobel prize-winning behavioural economist, who has died at the age of 90. |
| Shakespeare's Maths | 20240615 | 20240616 (WS) | William Shakespeare might well rank as the most influential writer in the English language. But it seems he also had a knack for numbers. Rob Eastaway, author of Much Ado about Numbers, tells Tim Harford about the simple maths that brings Shakespeare's work to life. Presenter: Tim Harford Readings: Stella Harford and Jordan Dunbar Producer: Beth Ashmead-Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon Author Rob Eastaway on the numbers in Shakespeare's writing Author Rob Eastaway on the numbers in William Shakespeare's plays and sonnets |
| Tackling The Three-body Problem | 20240413 | 20240414 (WS) | Netflix has a big new show named after and inspired by a classic problem in astrophysics, 'The Three Body Problem', where predicting the course and orbits of three or more celestial bodies proves near impossible. But how faithful is the Netflix show - and original novel - to the actual physics? Dr Anna Lisa Varri from the University of Edinburgh explains what we can and can't say about the complex and beautiful motions of planets, stars and moons, and brings a dose of scientific facts to science fiction. Presenter: Kate Lamble Producer: Nathan Gower Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot Editor: Richard Vadon (UIG/Science Photo Library/ Credit: Getty images) Is the physics in Netflix's new show accurate? Explaining the real life physics problem at the heart of Netflix's new show. |
| The Digital 'robots' Unlocking Medical Data | 20240217 | 20240218 (WS) 20240219 (WS) | Big medical datasets pose a serious problem. Thousands of patients' health records are an enormous risk to personal privacy. But they also contain an enormous opportunity – they could show us how to provide better treatments or more effective health policies. A system called OpenSAFELY has been designed to solve this problem, with the help of a computer code “robot ?. Professor Ben Goldacre, director of the Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science at the University of Oxford, explains how it works. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Janet Staples Sound mix: Hal Haines Editor: Charlotte McDonald Ben Goldacre on OpenSAFELY, protecting patient privacy while analysing health data Professor Ben Goldacre on OpenSAFELY, a system to let researchers investigate medical data while keeping its secrets safe |
| The Global Gender Split In Young People's Politics | 20240210 | 20240211 (WS) 20240212 (WS) | In a surprising new trend, young men and women around the world are dividing by gender on their politics and ideologies. Whilst young women are becoming more liberal, young men are becoming more conservative. Tim Harford speaks to John Burn-Murdoch, Columnist and Chief Data Reporter at the Financial Times, about why this global phenomena may be occurring and Dr Heejung Chung, Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent, explains why the ideological divisions between young men and women in South Korea are some of the most extreme. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Series Producer: Tom Colls Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon (Picture: A couple with their back to each other busy with their mobile phones Credit: Martin DM / Getty) Tim Harford investigates the growing political divergence between young men and women. Tim Harford investigates the growing political divergence between young men and women around the world. |
| The Magic Of Trigonometry | 20240706 | 20240707 (WS) | You might have found it boring in school maths classes, but Matt Parker thinks we should all learn to love trigonometry. The ‘Love Triangle' author talks to Tim Harford about the maths used in GPS, architecture and special effects. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Series Producer: Tom Colls Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Vadon Tim Harford interviews Matt Parker on his latest book 'Love Triangle Tim Harford interviews Matt Parker on his latest book ‘Love Triangle'. |
| The Overlooked Mathematicians Of History | 20231028 | 20231029 (WS) 20231030 (WS) | Conventional histories of mathematics are dominated by well-known names like Pythagoras, Leibniz or Newton. But to concentrate solely on figures from Europe gives us only a patchwork understanding of the rich and varied history of mathematical achievement around the world. Tim Harford speaks to Dr Kate Kitagawa, co-author of The Secret Lives of Numbers, to explore the long history of mathematical advances and innovation across civilisations and centuries, from the female mathematician at court in imperial China to the pioneers in the mathematical powerhouses of the Middle East in the first millennium AD. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Richard Vadon Sound engineer: James Beard (Photo: Statue of Al Khwarizmi, a ninth century mathematician. Credit: Mel Longhurst/Getty Images) A global history of mathematics, from ancient China to the Middle East A global history of mathematics, from ancient China to the mathematical powerhouse of the Middle East |
| The Puzzles You're Meant To Get Wrong | 20240928 | 20240929 (WS) |  Why do some puzzles make us immediately leap to the wrong conclusion? That's the subject of Alex Bellos' new book Think Twice, which has page after page of questions designed to deceive. Alex sets Tim Harford some of his favourite puzzles. Presenter: Tim Harford Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison and Janet Staples Sound mix: Donald MacDonald Editor: Richard Vadon Alex Bellos sets Tim Harford logical conundrums designed to deceive Alex Bellos sets Tim Harford logical conundrums designed to deceive. |
| Ultramarathons: Are Women Faster Than Men? | 20240302 | 20240303 (WS) 20240304 (WS) | As running races get longer, the gap between male and female competitors seems to close. Tim Harford and Lucy Proctor investigate the claim that when the race is 195 miles long, women overtake men to become the fastest runners. Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Lucy Proctor Producers: Nathan Gower and Debbie Richford Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon (Image: Male and female running together up a mountain trail credit: nattrass via getty) Is it really true that in extremely long races, women run faster than men? Tim Harford and Lucy Proctor investigate the claim that when a running race is 195 miles long, women are faster than men. |
| Uncertainty, Probability And Double Yoked Eggs | 20241012 | 20241013 (WS) |  Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter is one of the great communicators of probability and uncertainty. His new book, The Art of Uncertainty, explains how to approach uncertainty, luck, probability and ignorance. Tim Harford talks to Sir David about double yoked eggs, the Bay of Pigs, and his top tips for politicians who want to communicate evidence and uncertainty. Presenter: Tim Harford Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: John Scott Editor: Richard Vadon Image: Portrait of mathematician and Risk guru, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter (Photo by In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images) Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter on his new book, The Art of Uncertainty |
| What Can Economics Learn From Sport? | 20241102 | 20241103 (WS) 20241104 (WS) |  The great theories of economics seem to have great explanatory power, but the actual world is often far too complicated and messy to fully test them out. Professor Ignacio Palacios-Huerta, an economist at the London School of Economics has an answer – sport. In the contained setting of competitive sport, he says, the rules are clear and you know who is doing what. This means, with some analysis, you can see vibrant illustrations of well-known economic theories playing out before your eyes. Ignacio talks to Tim Harford about some of his favourite economic theories, demonstrated in action in sporting competition. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Natasha Fernandes Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: John Scott Editor: Richard Vadon From loss aversion to game theory, how sports provide evidence for economic theories |
| What Do Windscreen Splats Tell Us About Insect Decline? | 20231021 | 20231022 (WS) | Do you notice fewer insect splats on windscreens than you used to? There's a study in the UK trying to measure this ‘windscreen phenomenon', as it's become known. We hear more about the study and whether we can draw conclusions about insect numbers in general, from reporter Perisha Kudhail, Dr Lawrence Ball from the Kent Wildlife Trust and Professor Lynn Dicks from the University of Cambridge. Presenter: Ben Carter Reporter/Producer: Perisha Kudhail Series Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot (Photo: Dead insects on a windshield Credit: shanecotee / Getty) We ask whether the 'windscreen phenomenon' suggests falling numbers of insects We ask whether the ‘windscreen phenomenon' suggests falling numbers of insects |
| What's Happening To Arctic Ice? | 20240323 | 20240324 (WS) 20240325 (WS) | The area of ice covering the Arctic ocean has been in a state of long decline, as climate change takes effect. But recent fluctuations in the ice have been seized on by climate change sceptics, who say it tells a different story. We speak to polar climate scientist Professor Julienne Stroeve to better understand how to read the ice data. Presenter / producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon Arctic ice has been in long decline. Do recent fluctuations change the story? Arctic sea ice has been in decline for decades. Do recent fluctuations change the story? |
| Where Have Cuba's People Gone? | 20240831 | 20240901 (WS) | The Cuban government has announced that their population has fallen by 10% in two years – just days after a demographer on the Caribbean island suggested an even bigger fall. But which is the right number, and why are so many people leaving? We speak to Dr Emily Morris from University College London and Dr Jorge Duany from the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. Presenter: Kate Lamble Producer: Beth Ashmead Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: Sue Maillot Editor: Richard Vadon We investigate the collapse in the Caribbean island's population. |
| Who Pays When Trade Wars Heat Up? | 20240907 | 20240908 (WS) | Donald Trump wants new tariffs on goods coming into the US, describing them as a tax on other countries. The Democrats are no stranger to trade tariffs themselves, with Joe Biden having added them to numerous goods coming into the US from China. We talk to Erica York from the Tax Foundation about how tariffs work and who ends up paying for them. Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Kate Lamble and Beth Ashmead Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: Steve Greenwood Editor: Richard Vadon (Image: U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Xi Jinping, China's president, shake hands during a news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017.Credit Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images) We look at Donald Trump's claim that tariffs are a tax on other countries |
| Why Medical Error Is Not The Third Leading Cause Of Death In The Us | 20240608 | 20240609 (WS) | The claim that medical error is the third leading cause of death in the US has been zooming around the internet for years. This would mean that only heart disease and cancer killed more people than the very people trying to treat these diseases. But there are good reasons to be suspicious about the claim. Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, or THIS Institute, at Cambridge University, explains what's going on. Presenter: Tim Harford Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Vadon Investigating how many deaths are caused by mistakes by doctors and nurses Investigating how many deaths are caused by mistakes by doctors and nurses in the US. |
| Will There Be A Billion Climate Refugees? | 20231202 | 20231203 (WS) 20231204 (WS) | Former Vice President Al Gore has said that climate change is predicted to lead to a billion climate refugees. But where do these predictions come from and are they realistic? We investigate the idea that floods, droughts, storms and sea level rise will cause a mass migration of people across borders. Reporter and Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon (Photo: Floods in central Somalia Credit: Said Yusuf - WARSAME/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock) We investigate if floods, droughts and storms will cause mass international migration |