Benefits vs minimum wage: Which pays more?
About this episode
Tim Harford investigates the numbers behind benefits versus minimum wage, climate science, and the complexities of the World Cup Draw.
Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week: (00:42) Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Jeremy Hunt argues that you can earn far more on out of work benefits than you can on the minimum wage. We argue his figures are deceptive - and we’ve done the homework to prove it. (09:09) As the heatwave rises to a crescendo, people are saying that wet bulb temperatures could hit critical levels. Utterly mystified? So was our editor, so we made this item to explain all to him (and you). (14:34) In a tournament with so many teams, we’ve had to consult a university professor to understand the mysterious mathematical workings of the World Cup Draw. It’s even more complicated and confusing than VAR! (OK, it’s not that bad.) (19:00) Welsh comedian Elis James has a superpower - finding mutual connections with his fellow countrymen and women. So let’s add to the fun by providing a statistical framework upon which to understand his achievements. That’s how comedy works, right? More or Less is the programme that looks at numbers and statistics in the news and in life. We’re always looking for questions from listeners - you can contact us on moreorless@bbc.co.uk . Guests…
People in this episode
Host: Tim Harford
Guests: Eduin Latimer, Dr Chloe Brimicombe, Dr Kat Phillips
Topics covered
- minimum wage
- out of work benefits
- climate science
- World Cup Draw
- comedy statistics
Keywords
- benefits
- minimum wage
- climate science
- World Cup Draw
- comedy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Institute for Fiscal Studies, University of Oxford, University of Warwick
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