The Size and Scope of Government Expenditure, The Economic Rationales for the State

 

On magnitudes, budgets

Small spending cuts? 01 Apr 11 Fri, 1 Apr 11, Duration: 28 mins

Tim Harford is back with a new series of More or Less, and the numbers behind the news. Are the cuts "small"? And we introduce "The Other Census". Download 13MB (right click & "save target as")

US debt: 05 Aug 2011, Fri, 5 Aug 11, Duration: 28 mins

Tim Harford and the More or Less team unpick more numbers in the news. This week: US debt, NHS funding and the "27 club". Download 13MB (right click & "save target as")

Slightly related: The Friday Podcast: When The U.S. Paid Off The Entire National Debt

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

 

On government Debt     

A Euro Debt Odyssey: 02 Sep 2011 Fri, 2 Sep 11, Duration: 28 mins

In this week's More or Less: a Euro debt odyssey, the placebo effect and 70 years of social surveys. Download 13MB 

How useful is GDP? 22 Apr 2011, Fri, 22 Apr 11, Duration: 29 mins

Tim Harford and team look at GDP, school standards and the results of 'The Other Census'. Download 13MB 

 

Tangential ... dissenting views: Libertarianism

NPR’s Planet Money  The Tuesday Podcast: Better Living Through Libertarianism

 NPR’s Planet Money  The Tuesday Podcast: Libertarian Summer Camp

Listen to the Podcast

 

Equity and Efficiency, Social Welfare, Evaluating Policies, Taxation

On how to measure social welfare (and relevance of national income)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Tuesday Podcast: Money Buys Happiness

 

Taxation, evaluating policies, competition between governments

NPR Planet Money

The Tuesday Podcast: How Do You Create A Job?

 

Friday, May 27, 2011 The Friday Podcast: How Many Jobs Has Scott Walker Created?

 

Friday, April 22, 2011   The Friday Podcast: Do The Rich Flee High-Tax States?


Taxation in Denmark

 Friday, January 15, 2010

Podcast: Tax Me Please

 

On the efficiency of trade (think of the consumption Edgeworth box)

The Tuesday Podcast: Making Christmas More Joyful, And More Efficient
Topic 3 (2-3 hours): Inequality, Poverty, and Measurement


On Poverty and Unemployment traps, on the welfare system
How welfare works 24 Sep 10, Fri, 24 Sep 10 , Duration: 28 mins

Tim Harford and the More or Less team examine more numbers in the news. This week: Claiming benefits has been described by the Chancellor as - for some - a "lifestyle choice". What does the evidence tell us about how incentives work in the welfare system?; Download 13MB 

Public Goods


Tuesday, November 9, 2010 The Tuesday Podcast: Lighthouses, Autopsies And The Federal Budget

(see also “government failure” and “public interest” models)
 

Friday, March 25, 2011  The Friday Podcast: Economists On Federal Funding For National Public Radio

NPR: Planet money The Tuesday Podcast: A Big Bridge In The Wrong Place

August 9  http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/archive.php?thingId=127413729
Slightly related: Friday, May 6, 2011  The Friday Podcast: Medieval Economics

Asymmetric Information and Health Care, other applications of asymmetric information

Download 13MB (right click &

On health care in the UK

Health check 21 Jan 11, Fri, 21 Jan 11, Duration: 28 mins

The Government says Britain's health care standards have fallen behind those of our European neighbours. And World Health Organisation figures support his claim. But do those numbers tell the whole story? Download 13MB (right click & "save target as") 

BBC: the NHS at 60 (selected articles and audio)

 

Radio 4 - The NHS at 60: The Cost of Health ,

 

File on 4 episodes: Foundation Hospitals , NHS procurement, Doctors in charge


On the US Health Care system and international health systems

Tuesday, July 6, 2010 The Tuesday Podcast: The Pain-In-The-Butt Index

  

PBS News Hour (USA): Comparing International Health Care Systems.

 

 “This American Life” – episodes 391 and 392 (Very good discussion of some key principles in health care provision)


Education and Training

Degrees of Debt: 10 Dec 2010 Fri, 10 Dec 10 , Duration: 28 mins

We look at the numbers behind the increase in the cap on undergraduate tuition fees in England. Are the changes fair and progressive? Are they dropping future students into a deep hole of debt? Or are they both?
 
NPR Planet money

The Friday Podcast: The Case For Preschool June 10, 2011

The Tuesday Podcast: How Much Is A Good Teacher Worth?