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    • Leveraging LinkedIn for HiringLinkedIn is a crucial platform for businesses to find potential candidates, as 70% of its users don't visit other job sites.

      LinkedIn is a valuable resource for hiring professionals, especially those who aren't actively looking for new jobs. With over 70% of LinkedIn users not visiting other leading job sites, businesses risk missing out on great candidates if they don't post their jobs on LinkedIn. Meanwhile, in other news, Mint Mobile is reducing the price of its unlimited plan from $30 to $15 per month, and Deborah Stone's book "Counting: How We Use Numbers to Decide What Matters" explores the importance of what we choose to count, starting with the children's book "1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" by Dr. Seuss, which teaches counting but never gets past the number two. In the world of numbers, it's not just about the quantity, but also the quality and context.

    • Understanding the importance of categorizing and countingCategorizing and counting are essential for effective communication and decision-making. Decisions about what to count and how to categorize have real-world consequences.

      The process of counting and categorizing involves making decisions about what belongs in a particular group. This was illustrated in the story of Dr. Zeus and his fascination with different kinds of fish. The question of what makes all these different fish "fish" highlights the importance of deciding on common characteristics to classify and count things. This concept is not just applicable to fish, but extends to various aspects of life, such as COVID cases and deaths, where determining what counts can be complex and contentious. Ultimately, human thinking relies on categorizing and classifying to communicate effectively, and the decisions we make about what to count and how to categorize have real-world consequences. The story of Dr. Zeus serves as an intriguing introduction to this idea, and the book explores this concept in greater depth.

    • Differences in COVID-19 death reporting criteriaUnderstanding varying data criteria and historical context is essential for accurate interpretation of statistics and effective decision-making.

      During the COVID-19 pandemic, different statistical agencies had varying criteria for what they considered a COVID death, leading to inconsistencies and ambiguities. While this created challenges, the numbers provided crucial insights for scientists and political leaders to understand and respond to the crisis. The numbers also gave the public a sense of control and hope, encouraging cooperation with safety measures. A related example from the book is the seemingly innocuous headline about the US census and the shifting demographic makeup. However, behind this claim lies a complex and problematic history of racial categorization in the United States, which began with the very first census in 1790. These historical and ongoing issues highlight the importance of critically examining data and understanding the context behind statistics.

    • Socially constructed concept of race impacts demographic projectionsThe way race is defined and counted in censuses shapes demographic trends and societal perceptions, highlighting the importance of critically examining data sources and methods.

      The concept of race is socially constructed, and how it is defined and counted can significantly impact demographic projections and societal perceptions. The Census Bureau uses specific rules when categorizing individuals of mixed race heritage, leading to the increasing representation of minorities and the decreasing representation of whites in the United States. It is essential to critically evaluate the sources and methods of data collection, including who does the counting, why it is being done, and how the data is defined and categorized, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the data's accuracy and relevance.

    • The Importance of Numbers in Decision-MakingInvest in quality travel essentials and secure health insurance for peace of mind, both of which are essential constants in life, despite technological advancements.

      While technology may bring new innovations, some things remain constant. Professor Deborah Stone's book "Counting" emphasizes the importance of numbers in decision-making, and we can apply this concept to various aspects of life. For instance, when planning a trip, it's essential to invest in high-quality, ethically-made travel essentials, which is where Quince comes in. Quince offers European linen, premium luggage, and Italian leather bags at affordable prices, ensuring you travel in style without breaking the bank. Meanwhile, another constant in life is the need for health insurance. UnitedHealthcare TriTerm Medical plans, underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, offer flexible and budget-friendly coverage that lasts nearly three years in some states. These plans provide peace of mind, ensuring you're financially protected during unexpected health situations. So, whether it's investing in quality travel essentials or securing health insurance, remember that some things remain essential, regardless of the technological advancements around us.

    Recent Episodes from More or Less: Behind the Stats

    How a tick box doubled the US maternal mortality rates.

    How a tick box doubled the US maternal mortality rates.

    he US has been portrayed as in the grip of a maternal mortality crisis. In contrast to most other developed nations, the rate of maternal deaths in the US has been going up since the early 2000s.

    But why? With the help of Saloni Dattani, a researcher at Our World in Data, Tim Harford explores how a gradual change in the way the data was gathered lies at the heart of the problem.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: Emma Harth Editor: Richard Vadon

    Election claims and erection claims

    Election claims and erection claims

    Are Labour right about the Liz Truss effect on mortgages? Are the Conservatives right about pensioners? Are Plaid Cymru right about spending? Are the Lib Dems right about care funding? Is Count Binface right about croissants?

    Why are MRP polls coming up with such different numbers?

    Do erections require a litre of blood?

    Tim Harford investigates the numbers in the news.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Kate Lamble Producers: Simon Tulett, Nathan Gower, Beth Ashmead Latham and Debbie Richford Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon

    Do ‘pig butchering’ cyber scams make as much as half Cambodia’s GDP?

    Do ‘pig butchering’ cyber scams make as much as half Cambodia’s GDP?

    So-called “pig butchering” scams take billions of dollars from people around the globe. But do the cyber scams run from compounds in Cambodia really take an amount of money equivalent to half that country’s GDP? We investigate how the scale of these criminal operations has been calculated.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Andrew Garratt Editor: Richard Vadon

    Worse mortgages, better readers, and potholes on the moon

    Worse mortgages, better readers, and potholes on the moon

    Will Conservative policies raise mortgages by £4800, as Labour claim? Are primary school kids in England the best readers in the (western) world, as the Conservatives claim? Are there more potholes in the UK than craters on the moon?

    Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Kate Lamble Producers: Nathan Gower, Simon Tullet Beth Ashmead-Latham and Debbie Richford Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

    Shakespeare’s maths

    Shakespeare’s maths

    AWilliam Shakespeare might well rank as the most influential writer in the English language. But it seems he also had a knack for numbers.

    Rob Eastaway, author of Much Ado about Numbers, tells Tim Harford about the simple maths that brings Shakespeare’s work to life.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Readings: Stella Harford and Jordan Dunbar Producer: Beth Ashmead-Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

    Leaflets, taxes, oil workers and classrooms

    Leaflets, taxes, oil workers and classrooms

    What’s going on with the dodgy bar charts that political parties put on constituency campaign leaflets?

    What’s the truth about tax promises?

    Are 100,000 oil workers going to lose their jobs in Scotland?

    Will class sizes increase in state schools if private schools increase their fees?

    Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Kate Lamble Producers: Nathan Gower, Beth Ashmead-Latham, Debbie Richford Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

    Why medical error is not the third leading cause of death in the US

    Why medical error is not the third leading cause of death in the US

    The claim that medical error is the third leading cause of death in the US has been zooming around the internet for years.

    This would mean that only heart disease and cancer killed more people than the very people trying to treat these diseases.

    But there are good reasons to be suspicious about the claim.

    Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, or THIS Institute, at Cambridge University, explains what’s going on.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Vadon

    Debate, Reform, tax evasion and ants

    Debate, Reform, tax evasion and ants

    Were there any suspicious claims in the election debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer?

    Do the claims in Reform UK’s policy documents on excess deaths and climate change make sense?

    Can the Conservatives and Labour raise £6bn a year by cracking down on tax avoidance and evasion?

    And do all the humans on earth weigh more than all of the ants?

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporters: Kate Lamble and Nathan Gower Producer: Beth Ashmead-Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Richard Vadon

    Data for India

    Data for India

    India’s election has been running since 19 April. With results imminent on 4th June, More or Less talks with Chennai based data communicator Rukmini S. She founded Data for India, a new website designed to make socioeconomic data on India easier to find and understand. She talks us through the changing trends to help give a better picture of the type of country the winning party will govern.

    Producers: Bethan Ashmead and Nathan Gower Sound Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Richard Vadon

    UK growth, prisons and Swiftonomics

    UK growth, prisons and Swiftonomics

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that the UK economy is growing faster than Germany, France and the US, while Labour says the typical household in the UK is worse off by £5,883 since 2019. Are these claims fair? We give some needed context.

    Net migration has fallen - we talk to someone who predicted it would - Dr Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.

    Is Taylor Swift about to add £1 bn to the British economy as some media outlets have claimed? The answer is ‘No’.

    Why are our prisons full? We ask Cassia Rowland from the Institute for Government.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Nathan Gower, Bethan Ashmead Latham and Ellie House Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Neil Churchill Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Richard Vadon

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