Freakonomics Radio

Why Family and Business Don’t Mix

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:00:00 -0400

Yet another reason to blame your parents for pretty much everything.

Should Tipping be Banned?

Stephen J. Dubner — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0400

It's awkward, random, confusing -- and probably discriminatory too.

Baby, You Can Program My Car

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:00:00 -0400

A glimpse into our driverless future.

Can You Be Too Smart for Your Own Good? And Other FREAK-quently Asked Questions

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:00:00 -0400

Dubner and Levitt talk about circadian rhythms, gay marriage, autism, and whether "pay what you want" is everything it's cracked up to be.

REBROADCAST: The Hidden Cost of False Alarms

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400

If any other product failed 94 percent of the time, you'd probably stop using it. So why do we put up with burglar alarms?

What Do Medieval Nuns and Bo Jackson Have in Common?

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

A look at whether spite pays -- and if it even exists.

It’s Crowded at the Top

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:00:00 -0400

Why is unemployment still so high? It may be because of something that happened well before the Great Recession.

Running to Do Evil

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0400

An interview with Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, whose younger brother turned him in -- and what it says about the Boston bombers.

Help Wanted. No Smokers Need Apply

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:00:00 -0400

In many states, it is perfectly legal to not hire someone who smokes. Should employers also be able to weed out junk-food lovers or motorcyclists -- or anyone who wants to have a baby?

How Much Does Your Name Matter?

Stephen J. Dubner — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0400

A kid's name can tell us something about his parents -- their race, social standing, even their politics. But is your name really your destiny?

The Tax Man Nudgeth

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:00:00 -0400

Real tax reform may or may not ever happen. In the meantime, how about making the current system work a bit better?

100 Ways to Fight Obesity

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:00:00 -0400

Freakonomics asks a dozen smart people for their best ideas. Get ready for a fat tax, a sugar ban, and a calorie-chomping tapeworm.

How Money Is March Madness?

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:00:00 -0400

The NCAA basketball tournament grabs a lot of eyeballs, but turning them into dollars hasn't always been easy -- even when the "talent" is playing for free.

Parking Is Hell

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:00:00 -0400

There ain't no such thing as a free parking spot. Somebody has to pay for it -- and that somebody is everybody.

When Is a Negative a Positive?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:00:00 -0500

Sure, we all like to hear compliments. But if you're truly looking to get better at something, it's the negative feedback that will get you there.

Women Are Not Men

Stephen J. Dubner — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:00:00 -0500

In many ways, the gender gap is closing. In others, not so much. And that's not always a bad thing.

The Downside of More Miles Per Gallon

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:00:00 -0500

The gas tax doesn't work well, and it's only going to get worse. What's next?

How to Think About Guns

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:00:00 -0500

No one wants mass shootings. Unfortunately, no one has a workable plan to stop them either.

Sure, I Remember That

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:00:00 -0500

It is startlingly easy to create false memories, especially in politics.

Would You Let a Coin Toss Decide Your Future?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:00:00 -0500

Levitt and Dubner go deep on "Freakonomics Experiments," a new research project that lets you take a chance on life.

Introducing “Freakonomics Experiments”

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:00:00 -0500

Steve Levitt has a novel idea for helping people make tough decisions

Who Owns the Words That Come Out of Your Mouth?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:00:00 -0500

The very long reach of Winston Churchill -- and how the British government is remaking copyright law.

How to Live Longer

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:00:00 -0500

Why do Hall of Fame inductees, Oscar winners, and Nobel laureates outlive their peers?

How Did “Freakonomics” Get Its Name? … and Other FREAK-quently Asked Questions

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:00:00 -0500

Levitt and Dubner answer your questions about driving, sneezing, and ladies’ nights. Plus a remembrance of Levitt’s sister Linda.

How Much Does a Good Boss Really Matter?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:00:00 -0500

It's harder than you'd think to measure the value of a boss. But some enterprising economists have done just that -- and the news is good.

The House of Dreams

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:00:00 -0500

Dubner's childhood home goes from sacred to profane -- and then back again.

Have a Very Homo Economicus Christmas

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:00:00 -0500

Who better than an economist to help with your shopping list?

The Things They Taught Me

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:00:00 -0500

College, at its best, is about learning to think. Stephen Dubner chats up three of his former professors who made the magic happen.

Free-conomics

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:00:00 -0500

Economists are a notoriously self-interested bunch. But a British outfit called Pro Bono Economics is giving away its services to selected charities.

I Consult, Therefore I Am

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:00:00 -0500

There are enough management consultants these days to form a small nation. But what do they actually do? And does it work?

Mass Transit Hysteria

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:00:00 -0500

Adding more train and bus lines looks like an environmental slam dunk. Until you start to do the math.

Our 100th Episode!

Stephen J. Dubner — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:00:00 -0500

Turkey sex and chicken wings, selling souls and swapping organs, the power of the president and the price of wine: these are a few of our favorite things.

How to Maximize Your Halloween Candy Haul

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:00:00 -0400

Is it as simple as going to the richest neighborhood you can find? Of course not ...

We the Sheeple

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:00:00 -0400

Politicians tell voters exactly what they want to hear, even when it makes no sense. Which is pretty much all the time.

Lying to Ourselves

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 16:00:00 -0400

We rely on polls and surveys to tell us how people will behave in the future. Too bad they're completely unreliable.

The Cobra Effect

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:00:00 -0400

When you want to get rid of a nasty pest, one obvious solution comes to mind: just offer a cash reward. But be careful -- because nothing backfires quite like a bounty.

Why America’s Economic Growth May Be (Shh!) Over

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:00:00 -0400

Sure, we love our computers and all the rest of our digital toys. But when it comes to real economic gains, can we ever match old-school innovations like the automobile and electricity?

The Tale of the $15 Tomato

Stephen J. Dubner — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 10:00:00 -0400

Trying to go rustic by baking, brewing, and knitting at home can be terribly inefficient. And that's a wonderful thing.

Why Online Poker Should Be Legal

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:00:00 -0400

The data show that poker is indeed a game of skill, not chance, and a Federal judge agrees. So why are players still being treated like criminals?

Fear Thy Nature

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:00:00 -0400

What "Sleep No More" and the Stanford Prison Experiment tell us about who we really are.

Can Selling Beer Cut Down on Public Drunkenness?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:00:00 -0400

Binge drinking is a big problem at college football games. Oliver Luck -- father of No. 1 NFL pick Andrew, and the athletic director at West Virginia University -- had an unusual idea to help solve it.

How Deep Is the Shadow Economy?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:00:00 -0400

What we know -- and don't know -- about the gazillions of dollars that never show up on anyone's books.

There’s Cake in the Breakroom!

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:00:00 -0400

If you think working from home offers too many distractions, just think about what happens at the office.

Freakonomics Goes to College, Part 2

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:00:00 -0400

College tends to make people happier, healthier, and wealthier. But how?

The Season of Death

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:00:00 -0400

We know that summertime brings far too many fatal accidents. But you may be surprised if you dig into the numbers.

Freakonomics Goes to College, Part 1

Stephen J. Dubner — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 08:00:00 -0400

What's a college degree really worth these days?

Olympian Economics

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 17:00:00 -0400

Do host cities really get the benefits their boosters promise, or are they just engaging in some fiscal gymnastics?

Legacy of a Jerk

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:00:00 -0400

What happens to your reputation when you're no longer around to defend it?

What's Wrong With Cash for Grades?

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:00:00 -0400

If we want our kids to thrive in school, maybe we should just pay them.

Please Steal My Car

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:00:00 -0400

Levitt and Dubner answer your FREAK-quently Asked Questions about junk food, insurance, and how to make an economist happy.

Star-Spangled Banter?

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:00:00 -0400

Once a week, the British Prime Minister goes before the House of Commons for a lightning round of hard questions. Should the U.S. give it a try?

Riding the Herd Mentality

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:00:00 -0400

How using peer pressure -- and good, old-fashioned shame -- can push people to do the right thing.

A Cheap Employee Is … a Cheap Employee

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:00:00 -0400

Paying workers as little as possible seems smart -- unless you can make more money by paying them more.

You Eat What You Are, Part 2

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:00:00 -0400

To feed 7 billion people while protecting the environment, it would seem that going local is a no-brainer -- until you start looking at the numbers.

Playing the Nerd Card

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:00:00 -0400

The NBA’s superstars are suddenly sporting Urkel glasses -- but is it more than a fashion statement?

You Eat What You Are, Part 1

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:00 -0400

How American food so got bad -- and why it's getting so much better.

Retirement Kills

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:00 -0400

Sure, we all dream of leaving the office forever. But what if it's bad for your health?

Soul Possession

Stephen J. Dubner — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:00:00 -0400

In a world where nearly everything is for sale, is it always okay to buy what isn’t yours?

A Rose By Any Other Distance

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:00:00 -0400

At a time when people worry about every mile their food must travel, why is it okay to import most of our cut flowers from thousands of miles away?

Lottery Loopholes and Deadly Doctors

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:00:00 -0400

What do you do when smart people keep making stupid mistakes? And: are we a nation of financial illiterates?

Is Good Corporate Citizenship Also Good for the Bottom Line?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:00:00 -0400

A new study says that yes, it is -- but try telling that to the United Nations officials who are preaching sustainability practices.

Eating and Tweeting

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:30:00 -0400

Does the future of food lie in its past – or inside a tank of liquid nitrogen? Also: how anti-social can you be on a social network?

The Hidden Cost of False Alarms

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:00:00 -0400

If any other product failed 94 percent of the time, you’d probably stop using it. So why do we put up with burglar alarms?

The Power of the President -- and the Thumb

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:00:00 -0400

How much does the President of the United States really matter? And: where did all the hitchhikers go? A pair of "attribution errors."

The Patent Gap

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:13:18 -0400

Women hold fewer than one in 10 patents. Why? And what are we missing out on?

Show and Yell

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:00:00 -0400

Is booing an act of verbal vandalism or the last true expression of democracy? And: when you drive a Prius, are you guilty of “conspicuous conservation”?

It’s Not the President, Stupid

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:31:17 -0500

Isn’t it time to admit that the U.S. economy doesn’t have a commander in chief?

The Days of Wine and Mouses

Stephen J. Dubner — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Do more expensive wines taste better? And: what does one little rodent in a salad say about a restaurant’s future?

The Dilbert Index?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:21:00 -0500

Measuring workplace morale -- and how to game the sick-day system.

How Biased Is Your Media?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:00:00 -0500

The left and the right blame each other for pretty much everything, including slanted media coverage. Can they both be right?

Does This Recession Make Me Look Fat?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:30:00 -0500

A look at some non-obvious ways to lose weight.

Save Me From Myself

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:00 -0500

A commitment device forces you to be the person you really want to be. What could possibly go wrong?

The Hidden Side of the Super Bowl

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:37:13 -0500

A football cheat sheet to help you sound like the smartest person at the party.

What Do Hand-Washing and Financial Illiteracy Have in Common?

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Education is the surest solution to a lot of problems. Except when it’s not.

Does Money Really Buy Elections?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:27:35 -0500

We all know the answer is yes. But the data -- and Rudy Giuliani -- say no.

Why Is “I Don’t Know” So Hard to Say?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Levitt and Dubner answer your FREAK-quently Asked Questions about certifying politicians, irrational fears, and the toughest three words in the English language.

The Perils of Drunk Walking

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:00:00 -0500

We know it's terribly dangerous to drive drunk. But heading home on foot isn't the solution.

How Is a Bad Radio Station Like Our Public-School System? (Encore)

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The thrill of customization, via Pandora and a radical new teaching method

How American Food Got So Bad

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:47:23 -0500

Tyler Cowen points fingers. There's plenty of blame to go around.

Weird Recycling

Stephen J. Dubner — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:44:23 -0500

Clever ways to not waste our waste.

What Makes a Donor Donate?

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:05:25 -0500

The science of charity, with economist John List.

The Truth Is Out There…Isn’t It?

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:47:06 -0500

There’s a nasty secret about hot-button topics like global warming: knowledge is not always power.

Unnatural Turkeys

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:12:11 -0500

Our appetite for breast meat renders our holiday birds unable to reproduce.

Boo…Who?

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:16:24 -0500

Is booing an act of verbal vandalism—or the last true expression of democracy?

Wildfires, Cops, and Keggers

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:36:42 -0400

On Election Day, most people focus on the obvious winners and losers -- that is, the candidates. But we went looking for some of the strange side effects that elections produce.

Misadventures in Baby-Making

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:17:21 -0400

We are constantly wowed by new technologies and policies meant to make childbirth better. But beware the unintended consequences.

Those Cheating Teachers!

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:05:30 -0400

High-stakes testing has produced some rotten apples. But they can be caught.

Where Have All the Hitchhikers Gone?

Stephen J. Dubner — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:05:38 -0400

Did we needlessly scare ourselves into ditching a good thing? And, with millions of cars driving around with no passengers, should we be rooting for a renaissance?

The Decline and Fall of Violence

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:39:08 -0400

The world is a more peaceful place today that at any time in history -- by a long, long shot.

The Upside of Quitting

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:08:40 -0400

You know the saying: a winner never quits and a quitter never wins. To which Freakonomics Radio says … Are you sure?

The Folly of Prediction

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:00:45 -0400

Human beings love to predict the future, but we're quite terrible at it. So how about punishing all those bad predictions?

The Suicide Paradox

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:00:06 -0400

There are more than twice as many suicides as murders in the U.S., but suicide attracts far less scrutiny. Freakonomics Radio digs through the numbers and finds all kinds of surprises.

The Economist’s Guide to Parenting

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:00:15 -0400

Think you know how much parents matter? Think again. Economists crunch the numbers to learn the ROI on child-rearing.

The Church of "Scionology"

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:00:07 -0400

We worship the tradition of handing off a family business to the next generation. But is that really such a good idea?

Mouse in the Salad

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:37:47 -0400

In restaurants and in life, bad things happen. But what happens next is just as important.

Hey Baby, Is That a Prius You're Driving?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:04:10 -0400

"Conspicuous conservation" is about showing off your environmental bona fides. In other words, if you lean green, there's extra value in being seen leaning green.

Live From St. Paul!

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:00:34 -0400

Freakonomics Radio hits the road, and plays some Quiz Bowl

Things Our Fathers Gave Us

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:39:49 -0400

What did Levitt and Dubner learn as kids from their dads?

To Catch a Fugitive

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:10:09 -0400

Who is likelier to get to the fugitive first? When a fugitive is on the run, it’s not only the police he has to worry about. A bounty hunter could be coming after him, too.

Growing Up Buffett

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:41:05 -0400

What’s it like to wake up one day and realize Dad is a multi-billionaire? That's what happened to Warren Buffett’s son Peter -- who then started to think about whether or not to join the family business.

Gambling With Your Life

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:08:11 -0400

Does Las Vegas increase your risk of suicide? A researcher embeds himself in the city where Americans are most likely to kill themselves.

Does College Still Matter? And Other Freaky Questions Answered ...

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:19:38 -0400

In our second round of FREAK-quently Asked Questions, Steve Levitt answers some queries from listeners and readers.

Smarter Kids at 10 Bucks a Pop

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:38:46 -0400

It won’t work for everyone, but there’s a cheap, quick, and simple way to lift some students’ grades.

Why Can’t We Predict Earthquakes?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:13:40 -0400

We talk to a U.S. Geological Survey physicist about the science -- and folly -- of predicting earthquakes. There are lots of known knowns; and, fortunately, not too many unknown unknowns. But it's the known unknowns -- the timing of the next Big One -- that are the most dangerous.

Death by Fire? Probably Not

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:27:21 -0400

Fire deaths in the U.S. have fallen 90 percent over the past 100 years, a great and greatly underappreciated gain. How did it happen -- and could we ever get to zero?

The Health of Nations

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:30:46 -0400

For decades, GDP has been the yardstick for measuring living standards around the world. Martha Nussbaum would rather use something that actually works.

Is Twitter a Two-Way Street?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:24:24 -0500

To get a lot of followers on Twitter, do you need to follow a lot of other Tweeps? And if not, why not?

The Power of Poop

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:51:42 -0500

Since the beginning of civilization, we’ve thought that human waste was worthless and dangerous. What if we were wrong?

Millionaires vs. Billionaires

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:59:49 -0500

Five things you don’t know about the NFL labor standoff

Why Cities Rock

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:42:59 -0500

Could it be that cities are "our greatest invention" -- that, despite a reputation as black-soot-spewing engines of doom, they in fact make us richer, smarter, happier and (believe it!) greener?

Bring on the Pain!

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:55:49 -0500

It's not about how much something hurts -- it's how you remember the pain. This week, lessons on pain from the New York City subway, the professional hockey rink, and a landmark study of colonoscopy patients. So have a listen; we promise, it won't hurt a bit.

Waiter, There’s a Physicist in My Soup! (Part 2)

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:09:59 -0500

What do a computer hacker, an Indiana farm boy, and Napoleon Bonaparte have in common? The past, present, and future of food science.

Waiter, There’s a Physicist in My Soup! (Part 1)

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:52:33 -0500

The "molecular gastronomy" movement -- which gets a bump in visibility next month with the publication of the mammoth cookbook "Modernist Cuisine" -- is all about bringing more science into the kitchen. In many ways, it's the opposite of the "slow food" movement. In this episode, you'll hear chieftains from the two camps square off: Alice Waters for the slow foodies and Nathan Myhrvold for the mad scientists. Bon appetit!

Freakonomics FAQ, No. 1

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:19:49 -0500

Levitt and Dubner field questions from the public and hold forth on everything from dating strategies and rock-and-roll accordion music to whether different nations have different economic identities. Oh, and also: is it worthwhile to vote?

Trashed

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:04:57 -0500

How economics -- and emotion -- have turned our garbage into such a mess

Exit Interview: Schools Chancellor, NYC

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:58:10 -0500

Having already amassed an eventful resume -- the Clinton White House, the Department of Justice, and Bertelsmann -- Joel I. Klein spent the past eight years at chancellor of the biggest school system in the country. So what'd he learn?

You Say Repugnant, I Say … Let's Do It!

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:29:32 -0500

What happens when the most disturbing ideas are also the best?

Do More Expensive Wines Taste Better?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:09:39 -0500

They should! It's a cardinal rule: more expensive items are supposed to be qualitatively better than their cheaper versions. But is that true for wine?

The "No-Lose Lottery," Part 2

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:14:04 -0500

It’s the banking tool that got millions of people around the world to stop wasting money on the lottery. So why won't state and federal officials in the U.S. give it a chance?

Is America Ready for a "No-Lose Lottery"?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:57:54 -0500

For the most part, Americans don't like the simple, boring act of putting money in a savings account. We do, however, love to play the lottery. So what if you combined the two, creating a new kind of savings account with a lottery payout?

How Much Does the President of the U.S. Really Matter?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:48:45 -0400

The U.S. president is often called the "leader of free world." But if you ask an economist or a Constitutional scholar how much the occupant of the Oval Office matters, they won't say much. We look at what the data have to say about measuring leadership, and its impact on the economy and the country.

The NFL's Best Real Estate Isn't For Sale. Yet.

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:50:42 -0400

The NFL is very good at making money. So why on earth doesn't it sell ad space on the one piece of real estate that football fans can’t help but see: the players themselves? The explanation is trickier than you might think. It has to do with Peyton Manning, with Eli Manning, and with ... wait for it ... Tevye.

Reading, Rockets, and 'Rithmetic

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:53:55 -0400

Government and the private sector often feel far apart. One is filled with compliance-driven bureaucracy. The other, with market-fueled innovation. But something is changing in a multi-billion dollar corner of the Department of Education. It's an experiment, which takes cues from the likes of Google and millionaires who hope to go to the moon.

Who Stole All the Runs in Major League Baseball?

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:57:49 -0400

It was a pretty good baseball season -- especially if you're a fan of the Yankees, Rays, Twins, Rangers, Reds, Braves, Phillies, or Giants, all of whom made the playoffs. But the post-season just opened with a telling event, a no-hitter pitched by the Phillies' Roy Halladay, which shows what's been missing all season: runs.

Two Book Authors and a Microphone

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:06:47 -0400

The next chapter in the adventures of Dubner and Levitt has begun. Listen to a preview of what's to come for the fall season of Freakonomics Radio.

Why the World Cup Is an Economist's Dream

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:25:46 -0400

Steve Levitt talks about why the center cannot hold in penalty kicks, why a running track hurts home-field advantage, and why the World Cup is an economist's dream.

How Is a Bad Radio Station Like Our Public-School System?

Stephen J. Dubner — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:53:12 -0400

In this episode of Freakonomics Radio, we explore a way to make 1.1 million schoolkids feel like they have 1.1 million teachers.

Faking It

Stephen J. Dubner — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:52:30 -0400

Do you "fake it"? If so, you're hardly alone. In this episode, you'll hear how everyone from the President of the United States to a kosher-keeping bacon lover lives in a state of fallen grace. All the time. And gets by.

What Would the World Look Like if Economists Were in Charge?

Stephen J. Dubner — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:52:57 -0400

In this episode we speculate what would happen if economists got to run the world. Hear from a high-end call girl; an Estonian who ran his country according to the gospel of Milton Friedman; and a guy who wants to start building new nations in the middle of the ocean.

Is America's Obesity Epidemic For Real?

Stephen J. Dubner — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:53:29 -0500

Americans keep putting on pounds. So is it time for a cheeseburger tax? Or would a chill pill be the best medicine? In this episode, we explore the underbelly of fat through the eyes of a 280-pound woman, a top White House doctor, and a couple of overweight academics.

The Dangers of Safety

Stephen J. Dubner — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:15:11 -0500

What do NASCAR drivers, Glenn Beck and the hit men of the NFL have in common?