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
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Have more than 100 private schools been forced to close because of VAT?
Wed 14 Jan 2026
Tim Harford investigates closing schools, X users, Covid deaths and churchgoers
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Does Venezuela really have the biggest oil reserves in the world?
Sat 10 Jan 2026
We investigate if there are actually 300 billion barrels of oil in Venezuela's reserves
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Does Venezuela really have the biggest oil reserves in the world?
Sat 10 Jan 2026
We investigate if there are actually 300 billion barrels of oil in Venezuela's reserves
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The Stats of the Nation: Immigration, benefits and inequality
Fri 9 Jan 2026
Tim Harford explores the stats on some of the UK’s most potent political debates
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The Stats of the Nation: Older people, education, prisons and the weather
Thu 8 Jan 2026
Tim Harford explores the stats on pensioners, exams, justice and climate change
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The Stats of the Nation: Sex, drugs and empty homes
Wed 7 Jan 2026
Tim Harford explores the numbers that help explain fertility, pharmaceuticals and crime
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The Stats of the Nation: Health
Tue 6 Jan 2026
Tim Harford explores the numbers that help explain the state of health and the NHS
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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
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Numbers of the year 2026
Sat 3 Jan 2026
From passenger numbers to world cup travel, we cast our eye forwards into 2026
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Numbers of the year 2026
Sat 3 Jan 2026
From passenger numbers to world cup travel, we cast our eye forwards into 2026
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Numbers of the year 2025
Sat 27 Dec 2025
From tariffs to comets, we look back at the numbers of 2025 across the world
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Numbers of the year 2025
Sat 27 Dec 2025
From tariffs to comets, we look back at the numbers of 2025 across the world
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Were there really Three Wise Men?
Christmas Eve 2025
From counting people to measuring housework - we explore.
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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?
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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?
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Do we really have ‘superflu’?
Wed 17 Dec 2025
The NHS is warning of an unprecedented flu season - we check.
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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
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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
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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?
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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?
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Richard Thaler and The Winner’s Curse
Sat 29 Nov 2025
Richard Thaler on two of his most famous observations in behavioural economics
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Richard Thaler and The Winner’s Curse
Sat 29 Nov 2025
Richard Thaler on two of his most famous observations in behavioural economics
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Is there a stock market crash coming?
Sat 22 Nov 2025
Can data tell us if a stock market crash is coming?
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Is there a stock market crash coming?
Sat 22 Nov 2025
Can data tell us if a stock market crash is coming?
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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?
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Is RFK Jr right about China's diabetes rate?
Sat 8 Nov 2025
Investigating if 50% of people in China really have diabetes.
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Is RFK Jr right about China's diabetes rate?
Sat 8 Nov 2025
Investigating if 50% of people in China really have diabetes
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Halloween special: How many people did the real Dracula impale?
Sat 1 Nov 2025
Looking at the math's behind the myth
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Halloween special: How many people did the real Dracula impale?
Fri 31 Oct 2025
Looking at the math's behind the myth
Unlock the history and truth behind the data with The OU
Explore how numbers shape, and sometimes mislead us, with The Open University.
When can you trust statistics?
BBC Ideas discovers three easy ways to help make sense of statistics.
