More or Less

Recent reports claimed the average global mark-up, the difference between the price of production and the price that product is sold for, rose from 7% in 1980 to 59% by 2020.

So is this true? Are some companies choosing to charge us more than ever for their products?

We investigate the accuracy of these claims, and which companies are responsible with the help of Jan Eeckhout a Professor of Economics at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona

Presenter: Kate Lamble

Canadian psychologist and culture war commentator Jordan Peterson says planet Earth has got 20% greener in the last 20 years.

But satellite data tells a different story.

We investigate the correct number, with the help of Dr Chi Chen, from Rutgers University in the US.

Presenter: Kate Lamble

Researchers have catalogued 7,164 languages spoken around the world - some are used daily by billions. Half are spoken by less than 8000 people. The death of a language, when it’s no longer spoken as a first language by anyone living is a deeply significant moment in the cultural life of communities.

Multiple sources including the UN and National Geographic magazine have claimed this happens every two weeks. But we have reasons to be suspicious about that statistic.

Presenter: Kate Lamble

The idea that women outnumber men by 14 to 1 as casualties of natural disasters has been repeated in newspapers and online for years - the UN have even used this statistic.

But when you track down the source, the research behind this claim leaves much to be desired.

Presenter: Kate Lamble

Is climate change making turbulence more dangerous for people taking flights around the world?

That’s what one listener asked, following a terrifying turbulence incident which left one person dead and more than 20 injured on a flight to Singapore.

We speak to turbulence expert Paul Williams, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading, to understand what is going on.

Presenter: Kate Lamble

How can tennis star Roger Federer have won only 54% of the points he played, but been the best player in the world?

Presenter: Tim Harford

You might have found it boring in school maths classes, but Matt Parker thinks we should all learn to love trigonometry.

The ‘Love Triangle’ author talks to Tim Harford about the maths used in GPS, architecture and special effects.

Presenter: Tim Harford

Are there too many managers in the NHS or too few?

What are the odds of meeting a very tall man in finance (with a trust fund)?

What does it mean that Roger Federer only won 54% of the points he played?

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news.

Presenter: Tim Harford

he US has been portrayed as in the grip of a maternal mortality crisis. In contrast to most other developed nations, the rate of maternal deaths in the US has been going up since the early 2000s.

But why? With the help of Saloni Dattani, a researcher at Our World in Data, Tim Harford explores how a gradual change in the way the data was gathered lies at the heart of the problem.

Presenter: Tim Harford

Are Labour right about the Liz Truss effect on mortgages? Are the Conservatives right about pensioners? Are Plaid Cymru right about spending? Are the Lib Dems right about care funding? Is Count Binface right about croissants?

Why are MRP polls coming up with such different numbers?

Do erections require a litre of blood?

Tim Harford investigates the numbers in the news.

Presenter: Tim Harford