Description
Freakonomics: An Unconventional Economist Looks at the Unseen Side of Everything is a daring and thought-provoking book that mixes crisp economic analysis with interesting stories. This global bestseller, written by Steven D. Levitt, a well-known economist at the University of Chicago, and Stephen J. Dubner, a well-known journalist and writer, changes the way we think about economics and how it helps us understand the world around us.
The main notion of Freakonomics is what makes it different: economics isn’t simply about money, markets, or GDP; it’s really about incentives and how people react to them. Levitt and Dubner don’t write about the usual economic issues. Instead, they ask questions that don’t seem to have anything to do with economics at first glance, but that show underlying patterns when looked at closely.
Why do drug dealers stay with their moms? What do sumo wrestlers and instructors have in common? What effect did the legalization of abortion in the 1970s have on crime rates in the 1990s? The book asks a lot of interesting questions, and these are just a handful of them. The writers use data, statistical analysis, and real-life case studies to peel back the layers of ordinary behavior and find facts that go against what most people think.
Every chapter looks at a different enigma and shows how incentives, both obvious and hidden, can affect how people make decisions in ways that aren’t always obvious. The authors look into cheating on standardized tests and in sports in one chapter, and in another, they look at the economics of parenting and how names might affect success. The insights are typically startling, sometimes controversial, and always interesting.
Freakonomics is great not only because it gives answers, but also because it makes you want to learn more and ask questions. Levitt and Dubner want readers to go deeper than what they see on the surface and look at the bigger picture in society. The book stresses how important it is to ask unusual questions and use data in new ways to answer them. These are abilities that are becoming more and more important in today’s complicated environment.
Readers from all fields, including students, teachers, corporate leaders, and lawmakers, love the book because it is easy to read and has a lot of intellectual depth. It has led to conversations throughout the world, generated follow-up books and a popular podcast, and revolutionized how millions of people think about money and life in general.
Freakonomics doesn’t provide us a single hypothesis that explains everything. It doesn’t give you something less important; it gives you a new way to think. This book’s mix of inquiry, humor, and careful analysis encourages readers to look at the world in a more curious and acute way and to challenge the stories we frequently take for granted.
About the Authors
Steven D. Levitt is a professor of economics at the University of Chicago and a recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal, awarded to the most promising U.S. economist under forty. His work focuses on crime, corruption, and the application of economic tools to social issues. Stephen J. Dubner is a journalist, radio personality, and bestselling author with a flair for narrative and investigative storytelling. Together, they co-created the Freakonomics phenomenon.
Product Details
- Title: Freakonomics
- Authors: Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
- ISBN-13: 9780060731328
- Publisher: William Morrow
- Published: April 12, 2005
- Pages: 336
- Binding: Paperpack
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.