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Counting Covid’s impact on GDP

Does GDP tell us whose economies have suffered most during Covid?

GDP figures for the period covering lockdown appear to show that the UK suffered a catastrophic decline, worse than almost any other country. But as Tim Harford finds out, things aren’t quite as bad for the UK as they might seem - though they might be worse for everywhere else.

Also, alarming claims have been circulating in the UK about the number of suicides during lockdown. We look at the facts.
There is support for the issues discussed in the programme at www.help.befrienders.org

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producers: Nathan Gower and Chloe Hadjimatheou

(Robots work on the MINI car production line at the BMW plant in Cowley, Oxford, UK. Credit: Tolga Akmen/ Getty Images)

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9 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Sat 23 Jan 202102:50GMT
  • Sat 23 Jan 202116:50GMT
  • Sun 24 Jan 202102:50GMT
  • Sun 24 Jan 202105:50GMT
  • Sun 24 Jan 202115:50GMT
  • Sun 24 Jan 202122:50GMT
  • Mon 25 Jan 202110:50GMT

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