More or Less

Harvard professor Claudia Goldin, Nobel Economics Prize winner, discusses her groundbreaking research on women's employment and the persisting gender pay gap. Topics include factors influencing women's pay, the impact of 'greedy jobs' on gender equality, and the potential for redefining jobs post-pandemic.

Dr Beth Malory, lecturer in English Linguistics at University College London, discusses the claim that almost half the words in English are of French origin. She explains the different ways of counting and differentiating between directly borrowed and indirectly derived words. The impact of the Norman Conquest on the English language and the presence of French-derived words in various domains is also explored.

Controversial claims by YouTuber John Campbell regarding excess deaths and the Covid vaccine are debunked. The effectiveness of a new Alzheimer's treatment, Dannanamab, is examined, including its ability to slow down the progression of the disease and remove amyloid plaques from the brain. Beth Mallory discusses the impact of French words in the English language and the challenge of constructing a sentence using only French-derived words.

Tim Harford talks to Hannah Ritchie, author of "Not the End of the World", about the UK's carbon emissions record and its position compared to other countries. They discuss the country's impressive carbon emission reductions within the G7, the differences between the UK and China in terms of emissions, and the responsibility of wealthy countries in leading decarbonization efforts.

This podcast covers topics such as NHS consultant pay, net zero claims, Scottish ferry issues, and infrastructure building in Britain. It debunks the myth of million-pound salaries for NHS consultants and reveals their median earnings of £126,100. The decline in consultant pay compared to inflation is explored, along with the UK's progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The high costs of obtaining planning permission for infrastructure projects and the reliability issues of Scotland's ferry service are also discussed.

Guests including Giovanni Giusto, Venice City Councillor and David Edwards-May, Inland Waterways International discuss whether Venice or Birmingham has more canals. They also explore the definition of canals and rank cities based on canal lengths. The podcast also explores the canals of Basra and Yangzhou, comparing their historical significance and canal networks.

The podcast explores the government's claims of record numbers of social rent homes, the increase in murder sentences in the UK, Liz Truss's speech on national debt, and the feasibility of increasing the NHS workforce.

David Sumpter talks to Tim Harford about the different approaches to navigating our day to day challenges. They discuss the limitations of statistical thinking and introduce alternative ways of thinking. They explore the concepts of chaos and complexity, sharing personal anecdotes and discussing the work of Margaret Hamilton and Andrei Colin McGoroth.

Examining the plausibility of high rates of skin cancer diagnosis in the UK, discussing conflicting statistics and the impact of basal cell carcinoma. Questioning how many generations would need to pass to encounter a descendant alive in the year 3000. Exploring the claim of London's rising average rent compared to take-home pay. Discussing the challenges faced in building the Panama Canal and fact-checking Donald Trump's claim of 35,000 American deaths.

Matthew Parker, author of Hell's Gorge: The Battle to Build the Panama Canal, joins Tim Harford to investigate the claim made by Donald Trump that 35,000 Americans died during the construction of the canal. They discuss the challenges faced by the French during their failed attempt, the hazardous conditions and diseases workers encountered, and the tragic stories of those involved. The episode uncovers the complex history behind the casualties and explores the lasting impact of the Panama Canal.