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Tim Harford - Understand The Economy (BBC Radio)

Geoff Riley

10th February 2023

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Understand the Economy is presented by Tim Harford (Economics author aka 'The Undercover Economist' & FT Weekend Magazine Economics writer). So far there have been 15 episodes (each one 15 minutes) covering a broad range of, largely, macroeconomic subjects.

Fundamentally, Tim Harford takes a topic such as inflation or inequality and then gets experts (Professors, Lecturers, Research Fellows, Statisticians) to explain them. There are some wonderful anecdotes, historical examples (going back centuries) and clear expositions. Some episodes are esoteric - for example, one part of an episode deals with the difference between bankruptcy and insolvency but the vast majority of episodes are great feeder for an A level macroeconomics course (especially if you are an auditory learner). This is a great, short and punchy revision resource.

Thanks to John Richard at Tonbridge School for his excellent notes on this resource.

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Geoff Riley

Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for nearly forty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD and Revision conferences in the UK and overseas.