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Tim Harford is economics leader writer for the Financial Times and writes the “Dear Economist” and “Undercover Economist” columns on Saturdays. He first joined the FT as Peter Martin Fellow in 2003 and after a spell at the World Bank in Washington DC he rejoined the FT’s leader writing team in 2006.
Tim’s book, The Undercover Economist, is a Business Week bestseller and a Sunday Times bestseller, and was number one on Amazon.co.uk. It has been translated into sixteen languages. He is now working on a sequel.
Tim is also the presenter of the BBC2 series, Trust Me, I’m an Economist. He lives in London with his wife and two daughters.
NEW: Read Tim’s ‘Undercover Economist’ blog
Tim Harford’s website - -
Dear Economist: How can we stop our child buying sweets?
Instead of giving our daughter cash in hand, we keep track of her savings, which she can use for anything but sweets. But now, other people have given her birthday money
A marginal victory for the well-meaning environmentalist
Tim Harford returns to the vexed question of carbon dioxide emissions and asks whether one can justify the double-standard of taking the bus but not the plane
Does the altruism theory help anyone at all?
Many policy wonks believe cash incentives are counterproductive but some studies show that the way to get results is to pay for them, writes Tim Harford
Dear Economist: Can a cheap wine be a winner at dinner?
As an economics student, I look to impress my girlfriend on a budget. When I take her out, I avoid the cheapest bottle. Based on price alone, what is the best bottle to buy?
Dear Economist: Should we rethink the reasons for divorce?
The betting markets reckon Elin Nordgren will divorce Tiger Woods. Considering the experiences of the wives of Shane Warne and Bill Clinton, that seems hasty
Undercover Economist: Why US banks and taxpayers owe big thanks to Hank
Research carried out by the University of Chicago concludes that shareholders were about $130bn better off as a result of Paulson’s gift, writes Tim Harford
Lessons in complexity, from a field in Afghanistan
There is a tendency to treat the ‘hearts and minds’ aspect of counter-insurgency as a popularity contest. But the ‘voters’ are not casual spectators, says Tim Harford
Dear Economist: How can I bring my son to book?
As a condition of them receiving their Christmas presents, I asked my children to read a book set in a concentration camp. My son didn’t finish it. What am I supposed to do?
Dear Economist: Why are traffic jams so bad on Mondays?
I have always been curious about two things. First, why are traffic jams always heavier on Mondays than on other weekdays? Second, why is traffic heavier when it rains?
Stimulus spending might not be as stimulating as we think
Government projects do enjoy a multiplier-related discount in straitened times, says Tim Harford, but it must be made sure that the jobs are worth the expenditure
