In 2005, two men named Steven and Stephen published the quintessential airport book. In 2022, two men named Mike and Peter started a whole podcast just to make fun of it.
Thanks to Ted Joyce and Ames Grawert for helping with the research for this episode!
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Sources:
- The 2003 NYT article
- Freakonomics: What Went Wrong?
- A Review of Freakonomics
- Dismal Science
- Freak-Freakonomics
- The Impact of Legalized Abortion on Crime: Comment
- The Abortion–Crime Link: Evidence from England and Wales
- The Impact of an Abortion Ban on Socioeconomic Outcomes of Children: Evidence from Romania
- Did Legalized Abortion Lower Crime?
- On the Choice of Control Variables in the Crime Equation
- Steven Levitt on Abortion and Crime: Old Economics in New Bottles
- The Impact Of Legalized Abortion On Crime
- The Great American Mystery Story: Why Did Crime Decline?
- Is There an iCrime Wave?
- The Great Crime Decline
- The Crime Drop in America
- 10 (Not Entirely Crazy) Theories Explaining the Great Crime Decline
- What Caused the Crime Decline?
- Freaks and Geeks: How Freakonomics is ruining the dismal science.
- Interesting Questions in Freakonomics
- Incentives And The Economic Point Of View: The Case Of Popular Economics
- Abortion and Crime in Australia
Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!
Explicit content warning
11/02/22 • 73 min
20 Listeners
If Books Could Kill - Freakonomics
Transcript Summary
In this episode of the podcast titled "Freakonomics," the hosts discuss the flaws and misinterpretations in the book "Freakonomics" and its impact on society. They highlight the book's false binary between intuitive thinking and data-driven thinking, providing examples of misused data and misleading statistics. The hosts delve into various topics, including racism in hiring practices, the book's handling of racism and causation, the book's approach to solving the crime drop of the 1990s, and its exploration of cultural explanations for poverty. They critique the book for its overconfidence in quantitative data and oversimplification of complex issues. The hosts emphasize the need for decisions based on values rather than relying solely on data. The episode warns against the influence of popular yet misguided ideas like those presented in "Freakonomics" in shaping public discourse. If you're interested in critically analyzing a popular book and exploring the potential pitfalls of relying solely on data-driven thinking, this episode is a must-listen.
Transcript
Mike: Peter?
Peter: Michael.
Mike: What do you remember about a book called Freakonomics?
Peter: If I recall correctly, the thesis of the book is: "Had my mother aborted me, I would not have committed so many crimes."
[If Books Could Kill Podcast theme]
Peter: All right, welcome to If Books Could Kill.
Mike: A new episode.
Peter:
Freakonomics Top Questions Answered
How does the book "Freakonomics" analyze the impact of names on job prospects?
It questions the validity of Steven Levitt's study on names, arguing that racism plays a significant role in hiring.
What is the criticism of Steven Levitt's study on the impact of names?
The podcast hosts argue that Levitt misuses data and sets up strawman arguments to debunk, undermining the credibility of his study.
How does "Freakonomics" explain the drop in crime rates in the 1990s?
Levitt argues that mass incarceration and increased law enforcement are the main factors behind the crime reduction.
What is the criticism of the explanation given in "Freakonomics" for the decline in crime rates?
The hosts question Levitt's explanation, pointing out that it ignores other factors and the long-term consequences of mass incarceration.
Are there alternative approaches to crime reduction besides mass incarceration?
Yes, the podcast mentions that other countries have experienced crime drops without implementing mass incarceration, suggesting alternative approaches.
How do social shifts contribute to the decrease in crime rates?
Social shifts like no-fault divorce, delayed marriages, and cohabitation are mentioned as contributing factors to the decrease in crime.
Was access to abortion the sole barrier to poor women seeking abortions in the United States?
No, the podcast highlights that access to abortion was not the only barrier for poor women seeking abortions in the United States.
What are some criticisms of the book "Freakonomics"?
The podcast discusses the book's misleading use of data, questionable sources, oversimplification of phenomena, and overreliance on incentives as an explanatory factor.
What criticisms are raised about Steven Levitt's research in "Freakonomics"?
The podcast critiques Levitt's coding errors, data mistakes, and flawed evidence in his studies presented in the book.
Is the decrease in crime rates solely attributed to factors explored in "Freakonomics"?
No, the podcast acknowledges that crime reduction involves various factors such as cultural norms, education, justice system changes, and technological advancements, and cannot be solely attributed to the factors discussed in the book.
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