Freakonomics Radio
1,329 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 29.3K ratingsFreakonomics 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
414. Will Covid-19 Spark a Cold War (or Worse) With China?
April 23, 2020 03:00 - 57 minutes - 53 MBThe U.S. spent the past few decades waiting for China to act like the global citizen it said it wanted to be. The waiting may be over.
Will Covid-19 Spark a Cold War (or Worse) With China?
April 23, 2020 03:00 - 57 minutes - 53 MBThe U.S. spent the past few decades waiting for China to act like the global citizen it said it wanted to be. The waiting may be over.
413. Who Gets the Ventilator?
April 16, 2020 03:00 - 48 minutes - 44 MBShould a nurse or doctor who gets sick treating Covid-19 patients have priority access to a potentially life-saving healthcare device? Americans aren’t used to rationing in medicine, but it’s time to think about it. We consult a lung specialist, a bioethicist, and (of course) an economist.
Who Gets the Ventilator?
April 16, 2020 03:00 - 48 minutes - 44 MBShould a nurse or doctor who gets sick treating Covid-19 patients have priority access to a potentially life-saving healthcare device? Americans aren’t used to rationing in medicine, but it’s time to think about it. We consult a lung specialist, a bioethicist, and (of course) an economist.
412. What Happens When Everyone Stays Home to Eat?
April 09, 2020 03:00 - 45 minutes - 42.3 MBCovid-19 has shocked our food-supply system like nothing in modern history. We examine the winners, the losers, the unintended consequences — and just how much toilet paper one household really needs.
What Happens When Everyone Stays Home to Eat?
April 09, 2020 03:00 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBCovid-19 has shocked our food-supply system like nothing in modern history. We examine the winners, the losers, the unintended consequences — and just how much toilet paper one household really needs.
411. Is $2 Trillion the Right Medicine for a Sick Economy?
April 02, 2020 03:00 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBCongress just passed the biggest aid package in modern history. We ask six former White House economic advisors and one U.S. Senator: Will it actually work? What are its best and worst features? Where does $2 trillion come from, and what are the long-term effects of all that government spending?
Is $2 Trillion the Right Medicine for a Sick Economy?
April 02, 2020 03:00 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBCongress just passed the biggest aid package in modern history. We ask six former White House economic advisors and one U.S. Senator: Will it actually work? What are its best and worst features? Where does $2 trillion come from, and what are the long-term effects of all that government spending?
410. What Does COVID-19 Mean for Cities (and Marriages)?
March 26, 2020 03:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBThere are a lot of upsides to urban density — but viral contagion is not one of them. Also: a nationwide lockdown will show if familiarity really breeds contempt. And: how to help your neighbor.
410. What Does Covid-19 Mean for Cities (and Marriages)?
March 26, 2020 03:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBThere are a lot of upsides to urban density — but viral contagion is not one of them. Also: a nationwide lockdown will show if familiarity really breeds contempt. And: how to help your neighbor.
What Does Covid-19 Mean for Cities (and Marriages)?
March 26, 2020 03:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBThere are a lot of upsides to urban density — but viral contagion is not one of them. Also: a nationwide lockdown will show if familiarity really breeds contempt. And: how to help your neighbor.
409. The Side Effects of Social Distancing
March 19, 2020 03:00 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBIn just a few weeks, the novel coronavirus has undone a century’s worth of our economic and social habits. What consequences will this have on our future — and is there a silver lining in this very black pandemic cloud?
The Side Effects of Social Distancing
March 19, 2020 03:00 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBIn just a few weeks, the novel coronavirus has undone a century’s worth of our economic and social habits. What consequences will this have on our future — and is there a silver lining in this very black pandemic cloud?
Why Rent Control Doesn’t Work (Ep. 373 Rebroadcast)
March 12, 2020 03:00 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBAs cities become ever-more expensive, politicians and housing advocates keep calling for rent control. Economists think that’s a terrible idea. They say it helps a small (albeit noisy) group of renters, but keeps overall rents artificially high by disincentivizing new construction. So what happens next?
408. Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is?
March 05, 2020 04:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBTrump says it would destroy us. Sanders says it will save us. The majority of millennials would like it to replace capitalism. But what is “it”? We bring in the economists to sort things out and tell us what the U.S. can learn from the good (and bad) experiences of other (supposedly) socialist countries.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is?
March 05, 2020 04:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBTrump says it would destroy us. Sanders says it will save us. The majority of millennials would like it to replace capitalism. But what is “it”? We bring in the economists to sort things out and tell us what the U.S. can learn from the good (and bad) experiences of other (supposedly) socialist countries.
Is There Really a “Loneliness Epidemic”?
February 27, 2020 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThat’s what some health officials are saying, but the data aren’t so clear. We look into what’s known (and not known) about the prevalence and effects of loneliness — including the possible upsides.
407. Is There Really a “Loneliness Epidemic”?
February 27, 2020 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThat’s what some health officials are saying, but the data aren’t so clear. We look into what’s known (and not known) about the prevalence and effects of loneliness — including the possible upsides.
406. Can You Hear Me Now?
February 20, 2020 04:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBWhen he became chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai announced that he was going to take a “weed whacker” to Obama-era regulations. So far, he’s kept his promise, and earned the internet’s ire for reversing the agency’s position on net neutrality. Pai defends his actions and explains how the U.S. can “win” everything from the 5G race to the war on robocalls.
Can You Hear Me Now?
February 20, 2020 04:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBWhen he became chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai announced that he was going to take a “weed whacker” to Obama-era regulations. So far, he’s kept his promise, and earned the internet’s ire for reversing the agency’s position on net neutrality. Pai defends his actions and explains how the U.S. can “win” everything from the 5G race to the war on robocalls.
405. Policymaking Is Not a Science (Yet)
February 13, 2020 04:00 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBWhy do so many promising solutions — in education, medicine, criminal justice, etc. — fail to scale up into great policy? And can a new breed of “implementation scientists” crack the code?
Policymaking Is Not a Science (Yet)
February 13, 2020 04:00 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBWhy do so many promising solutions — in education, medicine, criminal justice, etc. — fail to scale up into great policy? And can a new breed of “implementation scientists” crack the code?
Does the President Matter as Much as You Think?
February 06, 2020 04:00 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBWe asked this same question nearly a decade ago. The answer then: probably not. But a lot has changed since then, and we’re three years into one of the most anomalous presidencies in American history. So once again we try to sort out presidential signal from noise. What we hear from legal and policy experts may leave you surprised, befuddled — and maybe infuriated.
404. Does the President Matter as Much as You Think?
February 06, 2020 04:00 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBWe asked this same question nearly a decade ago. The answer then: probably not. But a lot has changed since then, and we’re three years into one of the most anomalous presidencies in American history. So once again we try to sort out presidential signal from noise. What we hear from legal and policy experts may leave you surprised, befuddled — and maybe infuriated.
How the San Francisco 49ers Stopped Being Losers (Ep. 350 Update)
January 30, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 56 MBOne of the most storied (and valuable) sports franchises in the world had fallen far. So they decided to do a full reboot — and it worked: this week, they are headed back to the Super Bowl. Before the 2018 season, we sat down with the team’s owner, head coach, general manager, and players as they were plotting their turnaround. Here’s an update of that episode.
The Opioid Tragedy, Part 2: “It’s Not a Death Sentence”
January 23, 2020 04:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBOne prescription drug is keeping some addicts from dying. So why isn’t it more widespread? A story of regulation, stigma, and the potentially fatal faith in abstinence.
403. The Opioid Tragedy, Part 2: “It’s Not a Death Sentence”
January 23, 2020 04:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBOne prescription drug is keeping some addicts from dying. So why isn’t it more widespread? A story of regulation, stigma, and the potentially fatal faith in abstinence.
402. The Opioid Tragedy, Part 1: “We’ve Addicted an Entire Generation”
January 16, 2020 04:00 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBHow pharma greed, government subsidies, and a push to make pain the “fifth vital sign” kicked off a crisis that costs $80 billion a year and has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.
The Opioid Tragedy, Part 1: “We’ve Addicted an Entire Generation”
January 16, 2020 04:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBHow pharma greed, government subsidies, and a push to make pain the “fifth vital sign” kicked off a crisis that costs $80 billion a year and has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.
334. 5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing (Rebroadcast)
January 09, 2020 04:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBWe all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.” Most of the time, they don’t actually mean what we think they mean. But don’t worry — the experts are getting it wrong, too.
5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing (Ep. 334 Rebroadcast)
January 09, 2020 04:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBWe all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.” Most of the time, they don’t actually mean what we think they mean. But don’t worry — the experts are getting it wrong, too.
5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing (Rebroadcast)
January 09, 2020 04:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBWe all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.” Most of the time, they don’t actually mean what we think they mean. But don’t worry — the experts are getting it wrong, too.
The Zero-Minute Workout (Ep. 383 Rebroadcast)
January 02, 2020 04:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBThere is strong evidence that exercise is wildly beneficial. There is even stronger evidence that most people hate to exercise. So if a pill could mimic the effects of working out, why wouldn’t we want to take it?
The Zero-Minute Workout (Rebroadcast)
January 02, 2020 04:00 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBThere is strong evidence that exercise is wildly beneficial. There is even stronger evidence that most people hate to exercise. So if a pill could mimic the effects of working out, why wouldn’t we want to take it?
383. The Zero-Minute Workout (Rebroadcast)
January 02, 2020 04:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBThere is strong evidence that exercise is wildly beneficial. There is even stronger evidence that most people hate to exercise. So if a pill could mimic the effects of working out, why wouldn’t we want to take it?
401. How Many Prince Charleses Can There Be in One Room?
December 26, 2019 04:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBIn a special holiday episode, Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth take turns asking each other questions about charisma, wealth vs. intellect, and (of course) grit.
How Many Prince Charleses Can There Be in One Room?
December 26, 2019 04:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBIn a special holiday episode, Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth take turns asking each other questions about charisma, wealth vs. intellect, and (of course) grit.
362. Why Is This Man Running for President? (Update)
December 19, 2019 04:00 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBA year ago, nobody was taking Andrew Yang very seriously. Now he is America’s favorite entrepre-nerd, with a candidacy that keeps gaining momentum. This episode includes our Jan. 2019 conversation with the leader of the Yang Gang and a fresh interview recorded from the campaign trail in Iowa.
Why Is This Man Running for President? (Ep. 362 Update)
December 19, 2019 04:00 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBA year ago, nobody was taking Andrew Yang very seriously. Now he is America’s favorite entrepre-nerd, with a candidacy that keeps gaining momentum. This episode includes our Jan. 2019 conversation with the leader of the Yang Gang and a fresh interview recorded from the campaign trail in Iowa.
Why Is This Man Running for President? (Update)
December 19, 2019 04:00 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBA year ago, nobody was taking Andrew Yang very seriously. Now he is America’s favorite entrepre-nerd, with a candidacy that keeps gaining momentum. This episode includes our Jan. 2019 conversation with the leader of the Yang Gang and a fresh interview recorded from the campaign trail in Iowa.
400. How to Hate Taxes a Little Bit Less
December 12, 2019 04:00 - 42 minutes - 39 MBEvery 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?
How to Hate Taxes a Little Bit Less
December 12, 2019 04:00 - 42 minutes - 39 MBEvery 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?
399. Honey, I Grew the Economy
December 05, 2019 04:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBInnovation experts have long overlooked where a lot of innovation actually happens. The personal computer, the mountain bike, the artificial pancreas — none of these came from some big R&D lab, but from users tinkering in their homes. Acknowledging this reality — and encouraging it — would be good for the economy (and the soul too).
Honey, I Grew the Economy
December 05, 2019 04:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBInnovation experts have long overlooked where a lot of innovation actually happens. The personal computer, the mountain bike, the artificial pancreas — none of these came from some big R&D lab, but from users tinkering in their homes. Acknowledging this reality — and encouraging it — would be good for the economy (and the soul too).
379. How to Change Your Mind (Rebroadcast)
November 28, 2019 04:00 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBThere are a lot of barriers to changing your mind: ego, overconfidence, inertia — and cost. Politicians who flip-flop get mocked; family and friends who cross tribal borders are shunned. But shouldn’t we be encouraging people to change their minds? And how can we get better at it ourselves?
How to Change Your Mind (Rebroadcast)
November 28, 2019 04:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBThere are a lot of barriers to changing your mind: ego, overconfidence, inertia — and cost. Politicians who flip-flop get mocked; family and friends who cross tribal borders are shunned. But shouldn’t we be encouraging people to change their minds? And how can we get better at it ourselves?
How to Change Your Mind (Ep. 379 Rebroadcast)
November 28, 2019 04:00 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBThere are a lot of barriers to changing your mind: ego, overconfidence, inertia — and cost. Politicians who flip-flop get mocked; family and friends who cross tribal borders are shunned. But shouldn’t we be encouraging people to change their minds? And how can we get better at it ourselves?
398. The Truth About the Vaping Crisis
November 21, 2019 04:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBA recent outbreak of illness and death has gotten everyone’s attention — including late-to-the-game regulators. But would a ban on e-cigarettes do more harm than good? We smoke out the facts.
The Truth About the Vaping Crisis
November 21, 2019 04:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBA recent outbreak of illness and death has gotten everyone’s attention — including late-to-the-game regulators. But would a ban on e-cigarettes do more harm than good? We smoke out the facts.
397. How to Save $32 Million in One Hour
November 14, 2019 04:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBFor nearly a decade, governments have been using behavioral nudges to solve problems — and the strategy is catching on in healthcare, firefighting, and policing. But is that thinking too small? Could nudging be used to fight income inequality and achieve world peace? Recorded live in London, with commentary from Andy Zaltzman (The Bugle).