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BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics used in everyday life

Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life

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More or Less: The Most Profitable Product in History

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The Most Profitable Product in History

06/05/2016

BBC Radio 4 - More or Less, The Most Profitable Product in History

The most profitable product in history. Can the iPhone claim this accolade?

Investigating the numbers in the news. The most profitable product in history. Can the iPhone claim this accolade? Plus the statistics behind Leicester City's success.

What is the world's most profitable product?
Recently one of our listeners contacted us to say he heard a BBC correspondent describe the iPhone as the most profitable product in history. It was just an off-the-cuff comment but it got us thinking - could it be true? We asked listeners to get in touch with their suggestions. We take a look at a handful of them, from Viagra to popcorn in our quest for an answer. Could it be something more historical? 

EU and trade
We take a look at the numbers on trade and at the UK's relationship with the EU. Tim Harford interviews Chad P. Bown, a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Leicester City's Premier League success
At the beginning of the football season we explored the fallibility of predictions from experts and fans. As the season is ending, that is the only prediction we made correctly - that they are usually very wrong. Leicester City has had an astonishing success in winning the English Premier League. We take a look at the numbers behind the team's performance.

Sexist Data Crisis
Are countries around the world failing to collect adequate details about their female citizens? Campaigners have argued we are missing data in areas that would help us understand women's lives better, for example land and inheritance rights. We also explore how women's work can be overlooked from labour surveys.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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The Most Profitable Product in History

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