Freakonomics Radio

In this episode we first published in 2021, the political scientist Yuen Yuen Ang argues t... more

In his new book “Breakneck,” Dan Wang argues that the U.S. has a lot to learn from China. ... more

A lot of jobs in the modern economy don’t pay a living wage, and some of those jobs may be... more

What does it take to “play 3D chess at 250 miles an hour”? And how far will $12.5 billion ... more

Flying in the U.S. is still exceptionally safe, but the system relies on outdated tech and... more

Patrick Deneen, a political philosopher at Notre Dame, says yes. He was a Democrat for yea... more

Bjørn Andersen has killed hundreds of minke whales. He tells us how he does it, why he doe... more

In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and... more

For years, whale oil was used as lighting fuel, industrial lubricant, and the main ingredi... more

Whaling was, in the words of one scholar, “early capitalism unleashed on the high seas.” H... more

It’s a haphazard way of paying workers, and yet it keeps expanding. With federal tax polic... more

They should have died out when the lightbulb was invented. Instead they’re a $10 billion i... more

The former secretary of state isn’t a flamethrower, but he certainly has strong opinions. ... more

Until recently, Delaware was almost universally agreed to be the best place for companies ... more

For years, the playwright David Adjmi was considered “polarizing and difficult.” But creat... more

The Gulf States and China are spending billions to build stadiums and buy up teams — but w... more

Before she decided to become a poker pro, Maria Konnikova didn’t know how many cards are i... more

Cory Booker on the politics of fear, the politics of hope, and how to split the difference... more

In the U.S., there will soon be more people over 65 than there are under 18 — and it’s not... more

In this episode from 2013, we look at whether spite pays — and if it even exists.   ---SOU... more