Podcast Episodes

Abortion, modern slavery, math versus maths

(00:26) The UK abortion statistics gaining attention in Ireland’s referendum debate (03:49) Superforecasting author Phillip Tetlock talks to Tim Harford (09:51) Modern Slavery figures in the UK (17:4…

Published on 7 years, 7 months ago

WS More or Less: Exposing the biases we have of the world

The great statistician, Hans Rosling, died in February last year. Throughout his life Hans used data to explain how the world was changing – and often improving – and he would challenge people to exa…

Published on 7 years, 7 months ago

Cancer screening, the Windrush Generation, Audiograms

(0:32) Breast screening – the Numbers: 450,000 women have accidentally not been invited for breast cancer screening

(07:26) Counting the Windrush Generation: What do we know about those who might be l…

Published on 7 years, 7 months ago

WS More or Less: Puerto Rico - statistics versus politics

The government of Puerto Rico has developed a plan to strip the island’s statistical agency of its independent board as part of a money saving enterprise. But as the Caribbean island recovers from a …

Published on 7 years, 8 months ago

Straws, women on boards, plus animals born each day

Does the UK throw away 8.5 billion straws a year? (0’33’’)

Women on FTSE 100 boards (4’35”) We explore whether the proportion of female directors has changed over time, and what it tells us about wom…

Published on 7 years, 8 months ago

WS More or Less: How Should We Think About Spending?

Tim Harford talks to economist Dan Ariely about the psychology of money. They discuss how understanding the way we think about our finances can help us to spend more carefully and save more efficient…

Published on 7 years, 8 months ago

WS More More or Less: Are We Breathing Unsafe Air?

The World Health Organisation say that 95% of people who live in cities breathe unsafe air. But what do they mean by ‘unsafe’? And how do they calculate the levels or air pollution for every city in …

Published on 7 years, 8 months ago

WS More or Less: Why London’s Murder Rate is Being Compared to New York’s

London’s murder rate is on the rise – and for the first time ever it has just overtaken New York’s, according to a number of media outlets. But is it true? And is it appropriate for journalists to co…

Published on 7 years, 8 months ago

WS More or Less: How Deadly Was 1920s Melbourne?

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is one of Australia’s most popular television series and has been broadcast in 172 territories worldwide. Set in 1920’s Melbourne the series’ protagonist, Miss Phryne F…

Published on 7 years, 9 months ago

Were ‘extra’ votes counted in Russia’s presidential election?

Last week Vladimir Putin won a second consecutive and fourth overall term as the Russian President. Official polling results from the election show he received over 76 percent of the vote, with a tot…

Published on 7 years, 9 months ago