Freakonomics Radio
Flying in the U.S. is still exceptionally safe, but the system relies on outdated tech and is under tremendous strain. Six experts tell us how it got this way and how it can (maybe) be fixed. (Part one of a two-part series.)
- SOURCES:
- Dorothy Robyn, senior fellow at I.T.I.F.
- Ed Bastian, C.E.O. of Delta Airlines.
- John Strong, professor of finance and economics at the William and Mary School of Business.
- Kenneth Levin, retired air traffic controller.
- Polly Trottenberg, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
- RESOURCES:
- “Brand New Air Traffic Control System Plan,” (Federal Aviation Administration, 2025).
- The Air Traffic Controller Workforce Imperative: Staffing Models and Their Implementation to Ensure Safe and Efficient Airspace Operations, by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2025).
- “Annual Aviation Infrastructure Report: 2025,” by Marc Scribner (Reason Foundation, 2025).
- “New air traffic academy died in Congress despite dire need for more staff,” by Lori Aratani (The Washington Post, 2025).
- “The Real Problem With the FAA,” by Dorothy Robyn (The Atlantic, 2025).
- “How Much Do Jet Aircraft Pay into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to Fly from Dallas to D.C.?“ by Ann Henebery, (Eno Center for Transportation, 2018).
- Managing the Skies, by John Strong and Clinton Oster (2016).
- EXTRAS:
- “Freakonomics Radio Takes to the Skies,” series by Freakonomics Radio (2023).
- “In Praise of Maintenance,” by Freakonomics Radio (2016).
551. What Can Whales Teach Us About Clean Energy, Workplace Harmony, and Living the Good Life?
In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why “Moby-Dick” is still worth reading. (Part 3 of “Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.”)
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549. The First Great American Industry
Whaling was, in the words of one scholar, “early capitalism unleashed on the high seas.” How did the U.S. come to dominate the whale market? Why did whale hunting die out here — and continue…
548. Why Is the U.S. So Good at Killing Pedestrians?
Actually, the reasons are pretty clear. The harder question is: Will we ever care enough to stop?
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Sure, you were “in love.” But economists — using evidence from Bridgerton to Tinder — point to what’s called “assortative mating.” And it has some unpleasant consequences for society.
547. Satya Nadella’s Intelligence Is Not Artificial
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546. Are E.S.G. Investors Actually Helping the Environment?
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545. Enough with the Slippery Slopes!
Gun control, abortion rights, drug legalization — it seems like every argument these days claims that if X happens, then Y will follow, and we’ll all be doomed to Z. Is the slippery-slope argument a…
544. Ari Emanuel Is Never Indifferent
He turned a small Hollywood talent agency into a massive sports-and-entertainment empire. In a freewheeling conversation, he explains how he did it and why it nearly killed him.
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Sure, markets work well in general. But for some transactions — like school admissions and organ transplants — money alone can’t solve the problem. That’s when you need a market-design wizard like Al Roth. Plus:…