Freakonomics Radio

1,329 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 29.3K ratings

Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior.

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Episodes

550. Why Do People Still Hunt Whales?

July 20, 2023 03:00 - 37 minutes - 34 MB

For years, whale oil was used as lighting fuel, industrial lubricant, and the main ingredient in (yum!) margarine. Whale meat was also on a few menus. But today, demand for whale products is at a historic low. And yet some countries still have a whaling industry. We find out why. (Part 2 of “Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.”)

549. The First Great American Industry

July 13, 2023 03:00 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MB

Whaling was, in the words of one scholar, “early capitalism unleashed on the high seas.” How did the U.S. come to dominate the whale market? Why did whale hunting die out here — and continue to grow elsewhere? And is that whale vomit in your perfume? (Part 1 of “Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.”)

548. Why Is the U.S. So Good at Killing Pedestrians?

July 06, 2023 03:00 - 44 minutes - 41.2 MB

Actually, the reasons are pretty clear. The harder question is: Will we ever care enough to stop?

Why Did You Marry That Person? (Ep. 511 Replay)

June 29, 2023 03:00 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MB

Sure, you were “in love.” But economists — using evidence from Bridgerton to Tinder — point to what’s called “assortative mating.” And it has some unpleasant consequences for society.

547. Satya Nadella’s Intelligence Is Not Artificial

June 22, 2023 03:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MB

But as C.E.O. of the resurgent Microsoft, he is firmly at the center of the A.I. revolution. We speak with him about the perils and blessings of A.I., Google vs. Bing, the Microsoft succession plan — and why his favorite use of ChatGPT is translating poetry.

546. Are E.S.G. Investors Actually Helping the Environment?

June 15, 2023 03:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MB

Probably not. The economist Kelly Shue argues that E.S.G. investing just gives more money to firms that are already green while depriving polluting firms of the financing they need to get greener. But she has a solution.

545. Enough with the Slippery Slopes!

June 08, 2023 03:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MB

Gun control, abortion rights, drug legalization — it seems like every argument these days claims that if X happens, then Y will follow, and we’ll all be doomed to Z. Is the slippery-slope argument a valid logical construction or just a game of feelingsball?

544. Ari Emanuel Is Never Indifferent

June 01, 2023 03:00 - 1 hour - 60.2 MB

He turned a small Hollywood talent agency into a massive sports-and-entertainment empire. In a freewheeling conversation, he explains how he did it and why it nearly killed him.

Make Me a Match (Ep. 209 Update)

May 25, 2023 03:00 - 1 hour - 63 MB

Sure, markets work well in general. But for some transactions — like school admissions and organ transplants — money alone can’t solve the problem. That’s when you need a market-design wizard like Al Roth. Plus: We hear from a listener who, inspired by this episode, made a remarkable decision.

543. How to Return Stolen Art

May 18, 2023 03:00 - 51 minutes - 47.3 MB

Museums are purging their collections of looted treasures. Can they also get something in return? And what does it mean to be a museum in the 21st century? (Part 3 of “Stealing Art Is Easy. Giving It Back Is Hard.”)

542. Is a Museum Just a Trophy Case?

May 11, 2023 03:00 - 52 minutes - 47.8 MB

The world’s great museums are full of art and artifacts that were plundered during an era when plunder was the norm. Now there’s a push to return these works to their rightful owners. Sounds simple, right? It's not. (Part 2 of “Stealing Art Is Easy. Giving It Back Is Hard.”)

541. The Case of the $4 Million Gold Coffin

May 04, 2023 03:00 - 53 minutes - 49 MB

How did a freshly looted Egyptian antiquity end up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Why did it take Kim Kardashian to crack the case? And how much of what you see in any museum is stolen? (Part 1 of “Stealing Art Is Easy. Giving It Back Is Hard.”)

Why Your Projects Are Always Late — and What to Do About It (Ep. 323 Replay)

April 27, 2023 03:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MB

Whether it’s a giant infrastructure plan or a humble kitchen renovation, it’ll inevitably take way too long and cost way too much. That’s because you suffer from “the planning fallacy.” (You also have an “optimism bias” and a bad case of overconfidence.) But don’t worry: we’ve got the solution.

540. Swearing Is More Important Than You Think

April 20, 2023 03:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MB

Every language has its taboo words (which many people use all the time). But the list of forbidden words is always changing — and those changes tell us some surprising things about ourselves. Note: The swear words in this episode have been bleeped out. To hear a version of this episode without the bleeps, go to freakonomics.com.

539. Why Does One Tiny State Set the Rules for Everyone?

April 13, 2023 03:00 - 46 minutes - 43 MB

Delaware is beloved by corporations, bankruptcy lawyers, tax avoiders, and money launderers. Critics say the Delaware “franchise” is undemocratic and corrupt. Insiders say it’s wildly efficient. We say: they’re both right.

538. A Radically Simple Way to Boost a Neighborhood

April 06, 2023 03:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MB

Many companies say they want to create more opportunities for Black Americans. One company is doing something concrete about it. We visit the South Side of Chicago to see how it’s working out.

How to Hate Taxes a Little Bit Less (Ep. 400 Replay)

March 30, 2023 03:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MB

Every year, Americans short the I.R.S. nearly half a trillion dollars. Most ideas to increase compliance are more stick than carrot — scary letters, audits, and penalties. But what if we gave taxpayers a chance to allocate how their money is spent, or even bribed them with a thank-you gift?

537. “Insurance Is Sexy.” Discuss.

March 23, 2023 03:00 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MB

In this installment of the Freakonomics Radio Book Club, the economist Amy Finkelstein explains why insurance markets are broken and how to fix them. Also: why can’t you buy divorce insurance?

Why Are There So Many Bad Bosses? (Ep. 495 Replay)

March 16, 2023 03:00 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MB

People who are good at their jobs routinely get promoted into bigger jobs they’re bad at. We explain why firms keep producing incompetent managers — and why that’s unlikely to change.

536. Is Your Plane Ticket Too Expensive — or Too Cheap?

March 09, 2023 04:00 - 58 minutes - 53.1 MB

Most travelers want the cheapest flight they can find. Airlines, meanwhile, need to manage volatile fuel costs, a pricey workforce, and complex logistics. So how do they make money — and how did America’s grubbiest airport suddenly turn into a palace? (Part 3 of “Freakonomics Radio Takes to the Skies.”)

535. Why Is Flying Safer Than Driving?

March 02, 2023 04:00 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MB

Thanks to decades of work by airlines and regulators, plane crashes are nearly a thing of the past. Can we do the same for cars? (Part 2 of “Freakonomics Radio Takes to the Skies.”)

534. Air Travel Is a Miracle. Why Do We Hate It?

February 23, 2023 04:00 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MB

It’s an unnatural activity that has become normal. You’re stuck in a metal tube with hundreds of strangers (and strange smells), defying gravity and racing through the sky. But oh, the places you’ll go! We visit the world’s busiest airport to see how it all comes together. (Part 1 of “Freakonomics Radio Takes to the Skies.”)

Why Does the Most Monotonous Job in the World Pay $1 Million? (Ep. 493 Update)

February 16, 2023 04:00 - 53 minutes - 48.5 MB

Adam Smith famously argued that specialization is the key to prosperity. In the N.F.L., the long snapper is proof of that argument. Here’s everything there is to know about a job that didn’t used to exist.

The Economics of Everyday Things: Used Hotel Soaps

February 13, 2023 04:00 - 16 minutes - 15.6 MB

Hotel guests adore those cute little soaps, but is it just a one-night stand? In our fourth episode of The Economics of Everyday Things, Zachary Crockett discovers what happens to those soaps when we love ’em and leave ’em.

533. Will the Democrats “Make America Great Again”?

February 09, 2023 04:00 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MB

For decades, the U.S. let globalization run its course and hoped China would be an ally. Now the Biden administration is spending billions to bring high-tech manufacturing back home. Is this the beginning of a new industrial policy — or just another round of corporate welfare?

The Economics of Everyday Things: “My Sharona”

February 06, 2023 04:00 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MB

Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out in the third episode of our newest podcast, The Economics of Everyday Things.

Is Economic Growth the Wrong Goal? (Ep. 429 Update)

February 02, 2023 04:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MB

The economist Kate Raworth says the aggressive pursuit of G.D.P. is trashing the planet and shortchanging too many people. She has proposed an alternative — and the city of Amsterdam is giving it a try. How's it going?

The Economics of Everyday Things: Girl Scout Cookies

January 30, 2023 04:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MB

How does America's cutest sales force get billions of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs into our hands every year? Zachary Crockett finds out in the second episode of our newest podcast, The Economics of Everyday Things.

532. Do You Know Who Owns Your Vet?

January 26, 2023 04:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MB

When small businesses get bought by big investors, the name may stay the same — but customers and employees can feel the difference. (Part 2 of 2.)

Introducing “The Economics of Everyday Things”

January 23, 2023 04:00 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MB

A new podcast hosted by Zachary Crockett. In the first episode: Gas stations. When gas prices skyrocket, do station owners get a windfall? And where do their profits really come from?

531. Should You Trust Private Equity to Take Care of Your Dog?

January 19, 2023 04:00 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MB

Big investors are buying up local veterinary practices (and pretty much everything else). What does this mean for scruffy little Max* — and for the U.S. economy? (Part 1 of 2.) *The most popular dog name in the U.S. in 2022.

Extra: Samin Nosrat Always Wanted to Be Famous

January 16, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MB

And with her book "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat," she succeeded. Now she's not so sure how to feel about all the attention.

530. What's Wrong with Being a One-Hit Wonder?

January 12, 2023 04:00 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MB

We tend to look down on artists who can't match their breakthrough success. Should we be celebrating them instead?

529. Can Our Surroundings Make Us Smarter?

January 05, 2023 04:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MB

In a special episode of No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth discuss classroom design, open offices, and cognitive drift.

528. Yuval Noah Harari Thinks Life is Meaningless and Amazing

December 29, 2022 04:00 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MB

In this special episode of People I (Mostly) Admire, Steve Levitt talks to the best-selling author of Sapiens and Homo Deus about finding the profound in the obvious.

527. Can Adam Smith Fix Our Economy?

December 22, 2022 04:00 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MB

Labor exploitation! Corporate profiteering! Government corruption! The 21st century can look a lot like the 18th. In the final episode of a series, we turn to “the father of economics” for solutions. (Part 3 of “In Search of the Real Adam Smith.”)

526. Was Adam Smith Really a Right-Winger?

December 15, 2022 04:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MB

Economists and politicians have turned him into a mascot for free-market ideology. Some on the left say the right has badly misread him. Prepare for a very Smithy tug of war. (Part 2 of “In Search of the Real Adam Smith.”)

Freakonomics Radio Needs Your Help

December 12, 2022 03:00 - 5 minutes - 5.43 MB

A sneak peek at an upcoming series — and a call for would-be radio reporters.

525. In Search of the Real Adam Smith

December 08, 2022 04:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MB

How did an affable 18th-century “moral philosopher” become the patron saint of cutthroat capitalism? Does “the invisible hand” mean what everyone thinks it does? We travel to Smith’s hometown in Scotland to uncover the man behind the myth. (Part 1 of a series.)