Freakonomics Radio

  • Dying Is Easy. Retail Is Hard. (Update)

    Macy’s wants to recapture its glorious past. The author of the Wimpy Kid books wants to rebuild his dilapidated hometown. We just want to listen in. (Part two of a two-part series, first published in…


  • Is Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Its Most Valuable Asset? (Update)

    The iconic department store calls the parade its “gift to the nation.” With 30 million TV viewers, it’s also a big moneymaker — at least we think it is: when it comes to parade economics, Macy’s is…


  • 654. Is the Public Ready for Private Equity?

    A Trump executive order is giving retail investors more access to private markets. Is that a golden opportunity — or fool’s gold?   SOURCES: Elisabeth de Fontenay, professor of law at Duke University. Steven Kaplan,…


  • 653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future?

    Thoroughbred auction prices keep setting records. But tracks are closing, gambling revenues are falling, and the sport is increasingly reliant on subsidies. Is that the kind of long shot anybody wants? (Part three of a…


  • What Happens When You Turn 20

    The world has changed a good bit since Freakonomics was first published. In this live anniversary episode, Stephen Dubner tells Geoff Bennett of PBS NewsHour everything he has learned since then. Happy birthday, Freakonomics.  …


  • 652. Inside the Horse-Industrial Complex

    How does Kentucky keep itself atop the thoroughbred industry? Is a champion stallion really worth $200,000 per date? And how many hands can one jockey have? (Part two of a series, “The Horse Is Us.”)…


  • 651. The Ultimate Dance Partner

    For most of human history, horsepower made the world go. Then came the machines. So why are there still seven million horses in America? (Part one of a series, “The Horse Is Us.”)   SOURCES:…


  • Are Two C.E.O.s Better Than One? (Update)

    Spotify, Oracle, and Comcast have each recently announced they’re going with co-C.E.O.s. In this 2023 episode, we dig into the research and hear firsthand stories of triumph and disaster. Also: lessons from computer programmers, Simon…


  • 650. The Doctor Won’t See You Now

    The U.S. has a physician shortage, created in part by a century-old reform that shut down bad medical schools. But why haven’t we filled the gap? Why are some physicians so unhappy? And which is…


  • A Question-Asker Becomes a Question-Answerer

    For the 20th anniversary of Freakonomics, Debbie Millman of Design Matters interviews Stephen Dubner about his upbringing, his writing career, and why it’s important to “swing your swing.” Plus: a sneak peek at a new…


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