Stephen Dubner, live on stage, mixes it up with outbound mayor London Breed, and asks economists whether A.I. can be “human-centered” and if Tang is a gateway drug.
- SOURCES:
- London Breed, former mayor of San Francisco.
- Erik Brynjolfsson, professor of economics at Stanford University
- Koleman Strumpf, professor of economics at Wake Forest University
- RESOURCES:
- “SF crime rate at lowest point in more than 20 years, mayor says,” by George Kelly (The San Francisco Standard, 2025)
- “How the Trump Whale and Prediction Markets Beat the Pollsters in 2024,” by Niall Ferguson and Manny Rincon-Cruz (Wall StreetJournal, 2024)
- “Artificial Intelligence, Scientific Discovery, and Product Innovation,” by Aidan Toner-Rodgers (MIT Department of Economics, 2024)
- EXTRAS:
- “Why Are Cities (Still) So Expensive?” by Freakonomics Radio (2020)
370. How to Fail Like a Pro
The road to success is paved with failure, so you might as well learn to do it right. (Ep. 5 of the “How to Be Creative” series.)
369. A Good Idea Is Not Good Enough
Whether you’re building a business or a cathedral, execution is everything. We ask artists, scientists, and inventors how they turned ideas into reality. And we find out why it’s so hard for a group to…
368. Where Do Good Ideas Come From?
Whether you’re mapping the universe, hosting a late-night talk show, or running a meeting, there are a lot of ways to up your idea game. Plus: the truth about brainstorming. (Ep. 3 of the “How…
367. The Future of Meat
Global demand for beef, chicken, and pork continues to rise. So do concerns about environmental and other costs. Will reconciling these two forces be possible — or, even better, Impossible™?
366. This Economist Predicted the Last Crisis. What’s the Next One?
In 2005, Raghuram Rajan said the financial system was at risk “of a catastrophic meltdown.” After stints at the I.M.F. and India’s central bank, he sees another potential crisis — and he offers a solution.…
Extra: Domonique Foxworth Full Interview
Stephen Dubner’s conversation with the former N.F.L. player, union official, and all-around sports thinker, recorded for our “Hidden Side of Sports” series.
365. Not Just Another Labor Force
If you think talent and hard work give top athletes all the leverage to succeed, think again. As employees in the Sports-Industrial Complex, they’ve got a tight earnings window, a high injury rate, little choice…
Extra: Mark Cuban Full Interview
A conversation with the Shark Tank star, entrepreneur, and Dallas Mavericks owner recorded for the Freakonomics Radio series “The Hidden Side of Sports.”
364. Inside the Sports-Industrial Complex
For most of us, the athletes are what make sports interesting. But if you own the team or run the league, your players are essentially very expensive migrant workers who eat into your profits. We…
Extra: Mark Teixeira Full Interview
A conversation with former Major League Baseball player and current ESPN analyst Mark Teixeira, recorded for the Freakonomics Radio series “The Hidden Side of Sports.”