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Flying in the U.S. is still exceptionally safe, but the system relies on outdated tech and is under tremendous strain.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).

464. Will Work-from-Home Work Forever?
The pandemic may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean we’ll return to full-time commuting and packed office buildings. The greatest accidental experiment in the history of labor has lessons to teach us about productivity,…
463. How to Get Anyone to Do Anything
The social psychologist Robert Cialdini is a pioneer in the science of persuasion. His 1984 book Influence is a classic, and he has just published an expanded and revised edition. In this episode of the…
These Shoes Are Killing Me! (Ep. 296 Rebroadcast)
The human foot is an evolutionary masterpiece, far more functional than we give it credit for. So why do we encase it in “a coffin” (as one foot scholar calls it) that stymies so much…
462. The Future of New York City Is in Question. Could Andrew Yang Be the Answer?
The man who wants America to “think harder” has parlayed his quixotic presidential campaign into front-runner status in New York’s mayoral election. And he has some big plans.
461. How to Stop Worrying and Love the Robot Apocalypse
It’s true that robots (and other smart technologies) will kill many jobs. It may also be true that newer collaborative robots (“cobots”) will totally reinvigorate how work gets done. That, at least, is what the…
460. The True Story of the Minimum-Wage Fight
Backers of a $15 federal wage say it’s a no-brainer if you want to fight poverty. Critics say it’s a blunt instrument that leads to job loss. Even the economists can’t agree! We talk to…
459. Let’s Be Blunt: Marijuana Is a Boon for Older Workers
The state-by-state rollout of legalized weed has given economists a perfect natural experiment to measure its effects. Here’s what we know so far — and don’t know — about the costs and benefits of legalization.
458. How to Manage Your Goal Hierarchy
In this special crossover episode, People I (Mostly) Admire host Steve Levitt admits to No Stupid Questions co-host Angela Duckworth that he knows almost nothing about psychology. But once Angela gives Steve a quick tutorial…
457. Is Dialysis a Test Case of Medicare for All?
Kidney failure is such a catastrophic (and expensive) disease that Medicare covers treatment for anyone, regardless of age. Since Medicare reimbursement rates are fairly low, the dialysis industry had to find a way to tweak…
456. How to Fix the Hot Mess of U.S. Healthcare
Medicine has evolved from a calling into an industry, adept at dispensing procedures and pills (and gigantic bills), but less good at actual health. Most reformers call for big, bold action. What happens if, instead,…