Freakonomics Radio
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:
- Ann N. Greene, historian of 19th century America, retired professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Constance Hunter, chief economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.
- Elizabeth Bortuzzo, professional horse rider.
- Mark Paul, professor of economics at Rutgers University.
- Peter Frankopan, professor of global history at Oxford History.
- RESOURCES:
- “2023 Economic Impact Study of the U.S. Horse Industry,” (American Horse Council Foundation, 2024).
- Riding to Arms, by Charles Caramello (2022).
- The Horse in the City, by Clay McShane and Joel Tarr (2011).
- Horses at Work, by Ann Norton Greene (2008).
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
How the San Francisco 49ers Stopped Being Losers (Ep. 350 Update)
One of the most storied (and valuable) sports franchises in the world had fallen far. So they decided to do a full reboot — and it worked: this week, they are headed back to the…
403. The Opioid Tragedy, Part 2: “It’s Not a Death Sentence”
One prescription drug is keeping some addicts from dying. So why isn’t it more widespread? A story of regulation, stigma, and the potentially fatal faith in abstinence.
402. The Opioid Tragedy, Part 1: “We’ve Addicted an Entire Generation”
How pharma greed, government subsidies, and a push to make pain the “fifth vital sign” kicked off a crisis that costs $80 billion a year and has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.
5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing (Rebroadcast)
We all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.” Most of the time, they don’t actually mean what we think they mean. But don’t…
The Zero-Minute Workout (Rebroadcast)
There is strong evidence that exercise is wildly beneficial. There is even stronger evidence that most people hate to exercise. So if a pill could mimic the effects of working out, why wouldn’t we want…
401. How Many Prince Charleses Can There Be in One Room?
In a special holiday episode, Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth take turns asking each other questions about charisma, wealth vs. intellect, and (of course) grit.
Why Is This Man Running for President? (Update)
A year ago, nobody was taking Andrew Yang very seriously. Now he is America’s favorite entrepre-nerd, with a candidacy that keeps gaining momentum. This episode includes our Jan. 2019 conversation with the leader of the…
400. How to Hate Taxes a Little Bit Less
Every year, Americans short the I.R.S. nearly half a trillion dollars. Most ideas to increase compliance are more stick than carrot — scary letters, audits, and penalties. But what if we gave taxpayers a chance…
399. Honey, I Grew the Economy
Innovation experts have long overlooked where a lot of innovation actually happens. The personal computer, the mountain bike, the artificial pancreas — none of these came from some big R&D lab, but from users tinkering…
How to Change Your Mind (Rebroadcast)
There are a lot of barriers to changing your mind: ego, overconfidence, inertia — and cost. Politicians who flip-flop get mocked; family and friends who cross tribal borders are shunned. But shouldn’t we be encouraging…