The Simple Economics of Saving the Amazon Rain Forest (Ep. 428)

Everyone agrees that massive deforestation is an environmental disaster. But most of the standard solutions — scolding the Brazilians, invoking universal morality — ignore the one solution that might actually work.

Are Ambitious People Inherently Selfish? (NSQ Ep. 11)

Also: why do we habituate to life’s greatest pleasures?

The Pros and Cons of Reparations (Ep. 427)

Most Americans agree that racial discrimination has been, and remains, a big problem. But that is where the agreement ends.

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12 10 2010

'Tis the Season to Get What You Don't Want

Picture this: Christmas morning, tchotchke-free. This week on the Freakonomics Radio Marketplace segment, Stephen Dubner proposes an idea that might finally put an end to holiday deadweight loss. Remember that patchouli-infused candle your loving aunt gave you last year? You wouldn't dream...

Why Are Stories Stickier Than Statistics? (NSQ Ep. 10)

Also: are the most memorable stories less likely to be true?

Should America (and FIFA) Pay Reparations? (Ep. 426)

The racial wealth gap in the U.S. is massive. We explore the causes, consequences, and potential solutions. Also: another story of discrimination and economic disparity, this one perpetrated by an international sporting authority. The first of a two-part series.

Why Is It So Hard to Be Alone With Our Thoughts? (NSQ Ep. 9)

Also: how do you avoid screwing up your kids?

Remembrance of Economic Crises Past (Ep. 425)

Christina Romer was a top White House economist during the Great Recession. As a researcher, she specializes in the Great Depression. She tells us what those disasters can (and can’t) teach us about the Covid crash.

Wouldn’t It Be Better to Hear Your Eulogy Before You’re Dead? (NSQ Ep. 8)

Also: how does a comedian cope with tragedy? With Eugene Mirman.

How to Make Your Own Luck (Ep. 424)

Before she decided to become a poker pro, Maria Konnikova didn’t know how many cards are in a deck. But she did have a Ph.D. in psychology, a brilliant coach, and a burning desire to know whether life is driven more by skill or chance. She found some answers in poker — and in her new book The Biggest Bluff, she’s willing to tell us everything she learned.

How Do You Handle Criticism? (NSQ Ep. 7)

Also: is it better to send a congratulatory note to someone who deserves it or a condolence note to someone who needs it? 

The Doctor Will Zoom You Now (Ep. 423)

Thanks to the pandemic, the telehealth revolution we’ve been promised for decades has finally arrived. Will it stick? Will it cut costs — and improve outcomes? We ring up two doctors and, of course, an economist to find out.