Tim Harford
@timharford.ft.com
FT columnist, BBC journalist, author, host of Cautionary Tales, professional nerd.
Great piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com about the weird hollowing out of the UK tax system, how it compares with Scandinavia (vastly MORE progressive), and the strange reluctance of anyone in politics to talk about this truth.
on.ft.com/4abEiUj
on.ft.com/4abEiUj
Britain’s tax system combines the worst of the US and Scandinavia
[FREE TO READ] The UK’s experiment in eating the rich while shrinking the state has left everyone worse off
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Great piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com about the weird hollowing out of the UK tax system, how it compares with Scandinavia (vastly MORE progressive), and the strange reluctance of anyone in politics to talk about this truth.
on.ft.com/4abEiUj
on.ft.com/4abEiUj
The Drunkard's Walk - How Randomness Rules our Lives. (Fun book by Leonard Mlodinow, finally emerged from bookshelf deep-freeze.) amzn.to/3LXTcUl
The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives
Buy The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders
amzn.to
November 25, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The Drunkard's Walk - How Randomness Rules our Lives. (Fun book by Leonard Mlodinow, finally emerged from bookshelf deep-freeze.) amzn.to/3LXTcUl
I've just been sent an advance copy of @stewartbrand 's "The Maintenance of Everything". I LOVE it. He has such a distinctive voice and such a surprising set of observations and ideas.
Pretty-looking hardback: amzn.to/4rcKamp
Online draft: books.worksinprogress.co
Pretty-looking hardback: amzn.to/4rcKamp
Online draft: books.worksinprogress.co
Maintenance of Everything: Part One
Maintenance of Everything: Part One [Brand, Stewart] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Maintenance of Everything: Part One
amzn.to
November 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I've just been sent an advance copy of @stewartbrand 's "The Maintenance of Everything". I LOVE it. He has such a distinctive voice and such a surprising set of observations and ideas.
Pretty-looking hardback: amzn.to/4rcKamp
Online draft: books.worksinprogress.co
Pretty-looking hardback: amzn.to/4rcKamp
Online draft: books.worksinprogress.co
Taking a swipe at dating apps
timharford.com/2025/11/taki...
timharford.com/2025/11/taki...
Taking a swipe at dating apps
Algorithmic dating, like online dating in general, has overpromised and underdelivered. Yes, that is the uninformed opinion of a centrist dad who has never tried online dating — but it is not merel…
timharford.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Taking a swipe at dating apps
timharford.com/2025/11/taki...
timharford.com/2025/11/taki...
Cautionary Tales - Kyoto: The battle that defined climate politics (with Joe Robertson)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
November 21, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Cautionary Tales - Kyoto: The battle that defined climate politics (with Joe Robertson)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
Reposted by Tim Harford
The hall-of-mirrors economy: don't trade where you tweet!
on.ft.com/48mNofD
on.ft.com/48mNofD
Don’t trade where you tweet
[FREE TO READ] Online conversations about hot meme stocks or cryptocurrencies are the source of some very bad decisions
on.ft.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:32 AM
The hall-of-mirrors economy: don't trade where you tweet!
on.ft.com/48mNofD
on.ft.com/48mNofD
Reposted by Tim Harford
Have I mentioned that Alphaville is setting up a Substack? 👉 on.ft.com/49pcgVk
FT Alphaville is finally getting a Substack
Stacking subs
on.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Have I mentioned that Alphaville is setting up a Substack? 👉 on.ft.com/49pcgVk
The hall-of-mirrors economy: don't trade where you tweet!
on.ft.com/48mNofD
on.ft.com/48mNofD
Don’t trade where you tweet
[FREE TO READ] Online conversations about hot meme stocks or cryptocurrencies are the source of some very bad decisions
on.ft.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:32 AM
The hall-of-mirrors economy: don't trade where you tweet!
on.ft.com/48mNofD
on.ft.com/48mNofD
Reposted by Tim Harford
The Treasure Hunt That Broke America - Part 2 (Cautionary Tales)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
November 14, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The Treasure Hunt That Broke America - Part 2 (Cautionary Tales)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
I've always been curious about what it would be like to play D&D with a a professional DM... Last week I got the chance!
timharford.com/2025/11/what...
timharford.com/2025/11/what...
What’s it like to play with a professional Dungeon Master?
I’ve played tabletop role-playing games for forty years or so, but I’ve never played in a “professional” game. That changed last week when – as a guest of RPG Taverns …
timharford.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I've always been curious about what it would be like to play D&D with a a professional DM... Last week I got the chance!
timharford.com/2025/11/what...
timharford.com/2025/11/what...
Over a decade late, I know, but finally got round to reading Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, and it's really, really good - vivid, readable, loads of telling detail, deft drawing of connections and conclusions without overcooking it. Recommended. amzn.to/47THYZH
Steve Jobs
Based on more than forty interviews with Steve Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than 100 family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson ...
amzn.to
November 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Over a decade late, I know, but finally got round to reading Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, and it's really, really good - vivid, readable, loads of telling detail, deft drawing of connections and conclusions without overcooking it. Recommended. amzn.to/47THYZH
Reposted by Tim Harford
TBH
Not a popular thing to say, but the big problem with the UK direct tax system is that it taxes middle incomes too low, if we move from an income tax rate/ NI switcheroo to lower allowances, that is an improvement.
That is a big “if” though.
Not a popular thing to say, but the big problem with the UK direct tax system is that it taxes middle incomes too low, if we move from an income tax rate/ NI switcheroo to lower allowances, that is an improvement.
That is a big “if” though.
November 14, 2025 at 8:52 AM
TBH
Not a popular thing to say, but the big problem with the UK direct tax system is that it taxes middle incomes too low, if we move from an income tax rate/ NI switcheroo to lower allowances, that is an improvement.
That is a big “if” though.
Not a popular thing to say, but the big problem with the UK direct tax system is that it taxes middle incomes too low, if we move from an income tax rate/ NI switcheroo to lower allowances, that is an improvement.
That is a big “if” though.
The Treasure Hunt That Broke America - Part 2 (Cautionary Tales)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
November 14, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The Treasure Hunt That Broke America - Part 2 (Cautionary Tales)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
The silver bullet fallacy
timharford.com/2025/11/the-...
timharford.com/2025/11/the-...
The silver bullet fallacy
Is there a more annoying cliché in policy-wonk circles than “there are no silver bullets”? If so, it does not readily spring to mind. What those who intone this ritual phrase mean, of course, is no…
timharford.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:23 PM
The silver bullet fallacy
timharford.com/2025/11/the-...
timharford.com/2025/11/the-...
Why populism become popular
on.ft.com/3WPrxXX
on.ft.com/3WPrxXX
Why populism became popular
[FREE TO READ] It appeals more to a way of thinking than to a set of ideas — but is it just wrong?
on.ft.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Why populism become popular
on.ft.com/3WPrxXX
on.ft.com/3WPrxXX
Should we put a high price on work visas? timharford.com/2025/11/shou...
November 7, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Should we put a high price on work visas? timharford.com/2025/11/shou...
Reposted by Tim Harford
Cautionary Tales - The Treaure Hunt that Broke America (Pt 1)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
November 7, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Cautionary Tales - The Treaure Hunt that Broke America (Pt 1)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
Reposted by Tim Harford
Are bubbles good, actually? on.ft.com/495uSte
Are bubbles good, actually?
[FREE TO READ] On Jeff Bezos’s defence of AI mania
on.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Are bubbles good, actually? on.ft.com/495uSte
Reposted by Tim Harford
Treacle Tears: The Boston Molasses Disaster (Cautionary Club) timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
November 4, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Treacle Tears: The Boston Molasses Disaster (Cautionary Club) timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
Cautionary Tales - The Treaure Hunt that Broke America (Pt 1)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
November 7, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Cautionary Tales - The Treaure Hunt that Broke America (Pt 1)
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
Are bubbles good, actually? on.ft.com/495uSte
Are bubbles good, actually?
[FREE TO READ] On Jeff Bezos’s defence of AI mania
on.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Are bubbles good, actually? on.ft.com/495uSte
Treacle Tears: The Boston Molasses Disaster (Cautionary Club) timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
November 4, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Treacle Tears: The Boston Molasses Disaster (Cautionary Club) timharford.com/2025/11/caut...
Reposted by Tim Harford
Cautionary Tales: The TRUTH about Hansel and Gretel
timharford.com/2025/10/caut...
timharford.com/2025/10/caut...
October 31, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Cautionary Tales: The TRUTH about Hansel and Gretel
timharford.com/2025/10/caut...
timharford.com/2025/10/caut...
In praise of being a football fan, by my colleague Simon Kuper: as.ft.com/r/349446da-4...
(I am not really a fan, but my son is, and I loved this piece.)
(I am not really a fan, but my son is, and I loved this piece.)
How sport unites us
[FREE TO READ] In a divided world, fandom is a social superpower
as.ft.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:48 AM
In praise of being a football fan, by my colleague Simon Kuper: as.ft.com/r/349446da-4...
(I am not really a fan, but my son is, and I loved this piece.)
(I am not really a fan, but my son is, and I loved this piece.)
Cautionary Tales: The TRUTH about Hansel and Gretel
timharford.com/2025/10/caut...
timharford.com/2025/10/caut...
October 31, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Cautionary Tales: The TRUTH about Hansel and Gretel
timharford.com/2025/10/caut...
timharford.com/2025/10/caut...