More or Less Podcast
Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life
Episodes to download
-
![]()
The Stats of the Nation: The Economy
Mon 5 Jan 2026
Tim Harford explores the numbers that help explain the state of the UK economy
-
![]()
Numbers of the year 2026
Sat 3 Jan 2026
From passenger numbers to world cup travel, we cast our eye forwards into 2026
-
![]()
-
![]()
Numbers of the year 2025
Sat 27 Dec 2025
From tariffs to comets, we look back at the numbers of 2025 across the world
-
![]()
Were there really Three Wise Men?
Christmas Eve 2025
From counting people to measuring housework - we explore.
-
![]()
The shocking world of US health costs
Sat 20 Dec 2025
Can the same pill cost $3 in a pharmacy and $750 in a hospital?
-
![]()
Do we really have 鈥榮uperflu鈥�?
Wed 17 Dec 2025
The NHS is warning of an unprecedented flu season - we check.
-
![]()
RCP 8.5: Why did the climate change model get it wrong?
Sat 13 Dec 2025
How an important climate model was too pessimistic about the future
-
![]()
Is RFK right about US sperm counts?
Sat 6 Dec 2025
Do US teens have 50% lower sperm and testosterone counts than 65 year old men?
-
![]()
Richard Thaler and The Winner鈥檚 Curse
Sat 29 Nov 2025
Richard Thaler on two of his most famous observations in behavioural economics
-
![]()
Is there a stock market crash coming?
Sat 22 Nov 2025
Can data tell us if a stock market crash is coming?
-
![]()
Has there been a $50 trillion wealth transfer to the richest Americans?
Sat 15 Nov 2025
Bernie Sanders says vast riches have moved to the wealthiest in the US. Is he right?
-
![]()
Is RFK Jr right about China's diabetes rate?
Sat 8 Nov 2025
Investigating if 50% of people in China really have diabetes
-
![]()
Halloween special: How many people did the real Dracula impale?
Fri 31 Oct 2025
Looking at the math's behind the myth
-
![]()
Is your housework split sexist?
Sat 25 Oct 2025
Corinne Low explains the economics of women, men and housework
-
![]()
Nobel economics prize 2025: What's the big idea?
Sat 18 Oct 2025
Tim Harford explains the ideas behind the winners of the economics Nobel Prize.
-
![]()
Are millions of people getting Motability cars for anxiety and ADHD?
Wed 15 Oct 2025
Farm tax, ADHD benefits, Movember claim and Tim鈥檚 marathon
-
![]()
Are 72% of prison inmates in Switzerland foreign?
Sat 11 Oct 2025
Donald Trump says three quarters of Swiss prisoners are not Swiss. Is he right?
-
![]()
Does half the UK get more in benefits than they pay in tax?
Wed 8 Oct 2025
UK benefits, Zack Polanski鈥檚 billionaire claim and Gen Z job interviews
-
![]()
Is the world getting less miserable?
Sat 4 Oct 2025
Exploring global polling data that suggests people in more countries are "thriving"
-
![]()
Has Donald Trump ended seven 'unendable' wars?
Wed 1 Oct 2025
Trump鈥檚 peace deals, Labour鈥檚 GDP claim and university league tables
-
![]()
The Case of the Missing US Data
Sat 27 Sep 2025
Why does it matter that US government datasets are being deleted and discontinued?
-
![]()
Was it easier to deport migrants to France before Brexit?
Wed 24 Sep 2025
Migrant returns, ageing mistakes, beef prices and AI MP speeches.
-
![]()
Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence?
Sat 20 Sep 2025
Following the murder of Charlie Kirk, what is the data on political violence in the US?
-
![]()
Is it true that out-of-work benefits have almost doubled?
Wed 17 Sep 2025
Out-of-work benefits, French pensioners, surprising salmon and the truth about senses.
-
![]()
Will the world really be 50 million workers short by 2030?
Sat 13 Sep 2025
Is Nvidia boss Jensen Huang right about a looming labour shortfall?
-
![]()
Are Afghan nationals more likely to be convicted of sexual offences?
Wed 10 Sep 2025
National debt, Afghan crime, menopause retirement and literal snail pace.
-
![]()
Do 11,000 sharks die every hour?
Sat 6 Sep 2025
Investigating if 100 million sharks are killed by fishing nets every year.
-
![]()
Are self-driving cars safer than cars with drivers?
Sat 30 Aug 2025
We look at claims that fully autonomous cars are 5 or ten times safer
-
![]()
Do women feel the cold more than men?
Sat 23 Aug 2025
We investigate if air conditioning is set too cold for women.
