Freakonomics Radio
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.
- SOURCES:
- Geoff Bennett, co-anchor and co-managing editor of PBS News Hour.
- RESOURCES:
- Freakonomics Twentieth Anniversary Edition: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, by Stephen Dubner and Steve Levitt (2025).
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526. Was Adam Smith Really a Right-Winger?
Economists and politicians have turned him into a mascot for free-market ideology. Some on the left say the right has badly misread him. Prepare for a very Smithy tug of war. (Part 2 of “In…
Freakonomics Radio Needs Your Help
A sneak peek at an upcoming series — and a call for would-be radio reporters.
525. In Search of the Real Adam Smith
How did an affable 18th-century “moral philosopher” become the patron saint of cutthroat capitalism? Does “the invisible hand” mean what everyone thinks it does? We travel to Smith’s hometown in Scotland to uncover the man…
524. How Important Is Breastfeeding, Really?
In this special episode of Freakonomics, M.D., host Bapu Jena looks at a clever new study that could help answer one of parenting’s most contentious questions.
523. Did Michael Lewis Just Get Lucky with “Moneyball”?
No — but he does have a knack for stumbling into the perfect moment, including the recent FTX debacle. In this installment of the Freakonomics Radio Book Club, we revisit the book that launched the…
522. Is Google Getting Worse?
It used to feel like magic. Now it can feel like a set of cheap tricks. Is the problem with Google — or with us?
The Most Interesting Fruit in the World (Ep. 375 Update)
The banana, once a luxury good, rose to become America’s favorite fruit. Now a deadly fungus threatens to wipe it out. Can it be saved?
521. I’m Your Biggest Fan!
It’s fun to obsess over pop stars and racecar drivers — but is fandom making our politics even more toxic?
520. The Unintended Consequences of Working from Home
The last two years have radically changed the way we work — producing winners, losers, and a lot of surprises.
519. Has Globalization Failed?
It was supposed to boost prosperity and democracy at the same time. What really happened? According to the legal scholar Anthea Roberts, it depends which story you believe.
