Tim Harford author page

Tim Harford biography

Tim Harford is a British economist, journalist, and author known for his work in making economic concepts accessible to a broad audience. He studied at Brasenose College, University of Oxford, where he earned a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) and later completed a Master’s degree in Economics.

Harford has written extensively for the Financial Times, where he is a senior columnist and the writer of the long-running “Undercover Economist” column. His writing has also appeared in publications such as The Guardian and The New York Times. In addition to his print journalism, Harford is a broadcaster and presents the BBC Radio 4 programme More or Less, which examines the use and misuse of statistics in public debate.

As an author, Harford has published several books that explore economics and decision-making in everyday life. His first book, The Undercover Economist, was published in 2005 and introduces readers to economic principles through real-world examples. Other notable works include Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure (2011), Messy: How to be Creative and Resilient in a Tidy-Minded World (2016), and Fifty Things That Made the Modern Economy (2017), which was based on his BBC radio series of the same name.

Harford’s books have been recognised for their clarity and engaging approach to complex topics. He has received several awards for his journalism and broadcasting, including the Royal Statistical Society’s award for excellence in journalism in 2010. In 2021, he published How to Make the World Add Up: Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers, which offers guidance on interpreting statistics and data in everyday life.