Tim Harford author photo
Image via Wikimedia Commons, sous licence CC BY-SA 2.0.

Tim Harford

Tim Harford is an English economist, journalist, and author who explains economics, statistics, and decision-making for broad audiences. He is best known for The Undercover Economist, his Financial Times columns, and presenting BBC Radio 4’s More or Less, helping popularize economic thinking through accessible books, commentary, and broadcasting.

Biographie et Parcours de l'Auteur

Tim Harford was born in Kent in 1973 and educated at Aylesbury Grammar School before going to Brasenose College, Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics and later returned for an MPhil in economics. Economics was not initially his settled path; he has recalled nearly dropping the subject as an undergraduate before continuing with it. Early work at Shell and at the World Bank gave him a practical view of institutions, incentives and development. A decisive professional turn came when he joined the Financial Times in 2003 as the first Peter Martin Fellow and, after a period at the International Finance Corporation, returned to the paper in 2006. There he developed the accessible explanatory voice that became closely associated with “The Undercover Economist.” ((https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/tim-harford-the-man-who-gives-geeks-a-good-name-8783644.html?utm_source=openai))

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Citations

quote
The opportunity cost of anything is whatever you had to give up to get it
-The power of saying no
quote
Good statistics matter; without them it is almost impossible to understand the modern world
-Down with mathiness!
quote
The world is a complicated place; it defies description by sound bite statistics
-How Politicians Poisoned Statistics
quote
We should do better, whether writing a tweet or a report
-Economicky words are just plain icky
quote
This neglect of opportunity cost is a very human trait; we often fail to bring to mind the opportunity costs of our choices
-How behavioural economics helped me kick my smartphone addiction
quote
Ideally, I’d like to see many more complex problems approached with a willingness to experiment
-Failure: It’s everywhere
quote
It is impossible to make sense of a complex world without some statistical tools in your cognitive toolbox
-Curiosity can save us when lies come dressed as numbers
quote
It is one thing to sharpen and straighten all the pencils on one’s own desk, metaphorically or otherwise
-Messy
quote
The world is full of flaws, but progress is not only possible — it is happening
-The world is not as gloomy, or wonderful, as you may think

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Voix de la Communauté

"Tim Harford is one of my favourite writers in the world"

Rutger Bregman

"Tim Harford is our most likeable champion of reason and rigour ... clear, clever and always highly readable"

The Times

"Tim Harford is a riveting expositor of the field, lively and fair minded"

John Lanchester

"Tim Harford could well be Britain's Malcolm Gladwell"

Alex Bellos

"Tim Harford is perhaps the best popular economics writer in the world"

New Statesman

"Tim Harford is a brilliant explainer of economics ... A superb guide"

The Scotsman

"Nobody makes the statistics of everyday life more fascinating and enjoyable than Tim Harford"

Bill Bryson

"Every Tim Harford book is cause for celebration"

Malcolm Gladwell

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