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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: Princess Charlotte

Factual

Commemorative mugs celebrating the birth of Princess Charlotte.

08/05/2015

Princess Charlotte

BBC World Service - More or Less, Princess Charlotte

Assessing the economic benefit of a new princess.

The birth of Princess Charlotte could contribute £1 billion to the British economy, according to some newspapers. True? Plus, the statistics of sex.

The Duke and Duchess have had a baby girl this week – but will Princess Charlotte really bring £1 billion to the British economy? Many of the newspapers having been making financial claims about how much the new baby will contribute to GDP. We look at where these numbers come from and judge how realistic they are. Plus – how useful are statistics about sex? Author and statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter explains when you should and shouldn’t trust bedroom-related figures.
(Image: Mugs celebrating the birth of Princess Charlotte. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

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