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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

More or Less: Xenophobia in South Africa

Factual

A South African protests against xenophobia.

24/04/2015

Xenophobia in South Africa

BBC World Service - More or Less, Xenophobia in South Africa

Are international migrants stealing jobs?

After a spate of xenophobic attacks in South Africa over the last few weeks, the army has been deployed to calm down volatile hotspots. More or Less looks at some of the numbers behind often cited claims – that migrants are stealing jobs, and that South Africa receives more asylum applications than any other country in the world. 

Plus, the Tanzanian parliament has passed an act that could make publishing certain statistics a crime. The government wants to impose higher standards on its National Statistics Bureau – a positive aim. But some journalists and researchers are worried about a clause preventing people communicating what the government deems ‘false’ statistics. They say this would stop them telling the full story on issues like education and poverty, if it becomes law. With Justin Sandefur, research fellow at the Center for Global Development.

(Image: A South African holds up a sign saying 'stand up against xenophobia'. Credit: Mujahid Safodien/ AFP/Getty Images)

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