The Stats of the Nation: Sex, drugs and empty homes

The podcast examines housing issues, pharmaceutical economics, violent crime statistics, and fertility rates in the UK. It addresses the claim of 700,000 empty homes in England, clarifying that many are in flux or exempt from council tax, with only 150,000 considered long-term empties. The discussion explores the NHS's pharmaceutical spending, featuring Dr. Huseyin Naci, who suggests the UK may be overpaying for new drugs compared to other healthcare services. Examining violent crime trends, the podcast contrasts police data showing an increase with crime survey data indicating a decrease, highlighting issues with data collection and survey response rates. Finally, it addresses declining fertility rates, featuring Jennifer Dowd, who explains the complexities of interpreting total fertility rates and the impact of delayed childbearing.