Experts like David Spiegelhalter and Linda Yueh dive into intriguing stats of 2013, including income inequality, computing advancements, mathematical problems, and the impact of quantitative easing on the art market.
Happiness levels vary globally with the UK averaging 7.3 out of 10, while US income inequality post-recovery remains a heated economic debate.
Deep dives
Happiness and Satisfaction Levels Across Countries
The podcast discusses the average happiness reported by people in different countries. The average response of 7.3 out of 10 by 165,000 individuals in the UK was revealed, with significant variation from completely manic to really miserable responses. Comparisons were drawn with Danes and Bulgarians, showing differences in reported happiness levels.
Income Inequality During Economic Recovery
The episode explores income inequality during the economic recovery post the financial crash. In the US, the top 1% of income earners captured 95% of the incomes gained since 2009, a stark contrast to the rest of the population. Nobel Prize-winning economists Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz disagree on the impact of this inequality on the economy's slow recovery.
The Mathematical Challenge of Pancake Sorting
The podcast delves into the mathematical problem of pancake sorting, where different-sized pancakes need rearrangement. The pancake number, representing the flips required for sorting, was highlighted. This mathematical problem not only intrigues mathematicians but also finds practical applications in data reordering, compelling both computer scientists and biologists.
A guide to 2013 in numbers - the most informative, interesting and idiosyncratic statistics of the year discussed by More or Less interviewees. Contributors: David Spiegelhalter, Winton professor for the public understanding of risk at Cambridge University; Linda Yueh, BBC chief business correspondent; Simon Singh, author of The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets; Dr Pippa Malmgren, president and founder of Principalis Asset Management; Paul Lewis; presenter of BBC Radio 4's Money Box programme; Dr Hannah Fry, Centre of the Advanced Spatial Analysis at University College London; Merryn Somerset-Webb, editor-in-chief of MoneyWeek; Helen Arney, comedian. Producer: Ben Carter.
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