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WS MoreOrLess: Heads Or Tails?
Freakonomics guru Steven Levitt joins us to talk about an unusual experiment – getting people to agree to make major life decisions based on the toss of a coin. Is this really good social science? An…
Published on 11 years, 6 months ago
Faith and Charity?
"Religion Makes People More Generous"- according to The Daily Telegraph's interpretation of a new BBC poll on charitable giving. Tim Harford investigates whether there is a link between practising a …
Published on 11 years, 6 months ago
WS MoreOrLess: 'Spurious Correlations'
Is the divorce rate in the US state of Maine linked to margarine consumption? It's one of many pairs of statistics featured on the 'Spurious Correlations' website started recently by Tyler Vigen. We …
Published on 11 years, 6 months ago
What's Scottish Independence Worth?
Scottish independence - yes or no? Which will line your pocket more? The Scottish government says a Yes vote will leave Scots £1,000 each better off; the UK treasury says a No vote means a £1,400 bon…
Published on 11 years, 6 months ago
WS MoreOrLess: The Piketty Affair
Did 'rock-star' French economist Thomas Piketty get his numbers wrong? His theories about rising inequality and the increasing importance of capital have been the talk of the economic and political w…
Published on 11 years, 6 months ago
The Piketty Affair
Did 'rock-star' French economist Thomas Piketty get his numbers wrong? His theories about rising inequality and the increasing importance of capital have been the talk of the economic and political w…
Published on 11 years, 6 months ago
WS MoreOrLess: Risk Savvy
A famous probability puzzle is discussed involving goats and game shows with German psychologist Gerd Gigerenzer. Is he right to suggest in his new book 'Risk Savvy' that we really don't understand r…
Published on 11 years, 7 months ago
Romanian Crime
Are the statistics put forward by UKIP accurate, and are Romanians responsible for more crime than other nationalities? Plus: Gerd Gigerenzer on the famous probability puzzle involving goats and game…
Published on 11 years, 7 months ago
WS MoreOrLess: Did global poverty halve overnight?
Did the number of people around the world living in extreme poverty fall by half a few weeks ago? That's one interpretation of newly released figures for purchasing power parity around the world. The…
Published on 11 years, 7 months ago
Tax Dodgers and Benefits Cheats
Does the government have lots of people chasing the relatively small amounts lost to benefits cheats, while massive amounts of tax evasion are barely investigated? Plus: did global poverty fall by ha…
Published on 11 years, 7 months ago