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Does half the UK get more in benefits than they pay in tax?

UK benefits, Zack Polanski’s billionaire claim, Gen Z job interviews and super sharp pensioners.

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week:

The Daily Mail says that over half of the UK population live in households that get more in benefits than they pay in tax - is it true?

Do some billionaires earn more in a night than the population of Bournemouth earns in a year? New Green leader Zack Polanski seems to think so - we scrutinise the figures.

Are older generations getting smarter?

Have 77% of Gen-Z brought a parent along to a job interview? Really?

If you’ve seen a number you think we should take a look at, email the team: moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Tim Harford
Reporter: Lizzy McNeill
Producer: Nathan Gower
Series producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele
Sound mix: Duncan Hannant
Editor: Richard Vadon

Available now

28 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Wed 8 Oct 2025 09:00
  • Thu 9 Oct 2025 05:04
  • Fri 10 Oct 2025 16:30

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