Main content
Future gazing
Can political experts predict the future? We’re used to seeing political pundits on our television screens predicting future. But how accurate are their forecasts?
We’re used to seeing political pundits on our television screens predicting future events – who will win an election, whether a war or social unrest might break out, whether an international treaty will be signed. How accurate are these forecasts? Well, this is something Philip Tetlock has studied, and it turns out, not very. And oddly, the more famous the pundit, he says, the worse their predictive record.
Presented by David Edmonds
(Image: Crystal Ball, Credit: Shutterstock)
Last on
Mon 23 Mar 202004:50GMT
BBC World Service South Asia
Broadcasts
- Sat 7 Apr 201819:50GMTBBC World Service except Australasia, East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Sun 8 Apr 201802:50GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Sun 8 Apr 201818:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Tue 10 Apr 201817:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Sat 21 Mar 202005:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East & East Asia only
- Sun 22 Mar 202014:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 22 Mar 202015:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia, UK DAB/Freeview & Online only
- Sun 22 Mar 202022:50GMTBBC World Service
- Mon 23 Mar 202004:50GMTBBC World Service South Asia
