Category: Series

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More or Less: Behind the Stats - How to approach the world through numbers

How can we navigate our lives in a more efficient and satisfactory way? It?s a question Professor David Sumpter is looking to answer in his new book, Four Ways of Thinking. He talks to Tim Harford about four different approaches to our day to day challenges.

Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Jon Bithrey Sound Engineer: Andy Fell Editor: Richard Vadon

(Picture: Conceptual illustration of mathematics Credit: Science Photo Library / Getty)

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Articles of Interest - Plus Sizes

Plus-sized fashion seems to live in a separate trend cycle. There are different patterns, different cuts. And most notably, women’s shirts often have holes in their shoulders. And this separate plus-sized fashion universe reveals a lot about the way clothes are made and measured… and the way clothes dictate who is allowed to participate in public life.

This episode was made in collaboration with the show Weight For It. Links, images, and more at articlesofinterest.substack.com

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More or Less: Behind the Stats - Skin cancer, London rents and your great great great granddaughter

A BBC report quoted a study that said 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women in the UK will get skin cancer in their lifetime. Tim Harford and the team look into the detail. Also London?s Mayor Sadiq Khan said London?s average rent will hit ?2,700 a month next year, with the average take home salary ?2,131. How accurate are the figures and what do they tell us about the affordability of the capital?s rental properties? We fact check Donald Trump?s recent claim that 35,000 Americans died building the Panama Canal. And as noughties band Busted re-release Year 3000 with the Jonas Brothers, just how many greats should be in front of ?granddaughter? in that famous lyric?