Circling the Drain: Can the Euro Be Saved, Or Is It Doomed? A Freakonomics Quorum
…death that damages Europe and the world,” to the more measured “[I]t is unlikely that the euro will come apart.” All in all, we think it’s as comprehensive a read…
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…
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…
It used to be a global capital of innovation, invention, and exploration. Now it’s best known for its messy European divorce. We visit London to see if the British spirit…
Chemist Jack Szostak wants to understand how the first life forms came into being on Earth. He and Steve discuss the danger of “mirror bacteria,” the origin of biology in…
…death that damages Europe and the world,” to the more measured “[I]t is unlikely that the euro will come apart.” All in all, we think it’s as comprehensive a read…
Stanford professor Carolyn Bertozzi’s imaginative ideas for treating disease have led to ten start-ups. She talks with Steve about the next generation of immune therapy she’s created, and why she…
If you are driving and kill a pedestrian, there’s a good chance you’ll barely be punished. Why?
…and interests. Not allowing them to marry is as arbitrary as not allowing couples of different races, ethnicities or religions to marry. Looking ahead, we think these same factors will…
The mathematician and author sees mathematical patterns everywhere — from DNA to fireflies to social connections….
No — but he does have a knack for stumbling into the perfect moment, including the recent FTX debacle….
The director of the Hayden Planetarium is one of the best science communicators of our time. He and Steve talk about his role in reclassifying Pluto, bad teachers, and why…
…the right time to sell your company? As Dubner pointed out, your sale of Broadcast.com was particularly well-timed. –Tony D A. Where you take a company depends on your personal…
Until recently, Delaware was almost universally agreed to be the best place for companies to incorporate. Now, with Elon Musk leading a corporate stampede out of the First State, we…
Dubner and Levitt talk about circadian rhythms, gay marriage, autism, and whether “pay what you want” is everything it’s cracked up to be.
Almost everyone who buys a home spends thousands of dollars on title insurance. Most of them don’t understand it, and almost none of them use it. So why does it…
…and early 1990s. It would almost have been news if there were as few as 14 homicides in 13 days during those years. (Thanks to Tim Groseclose for the link.)…
New York Times columnist Charles Blow argues that white supremacy in America will never fully recede, and that it’s time for Black people to do something radical about it. In…
…you might as well report all the small news along the way since big news so rarely happens. Or it may be that members of the media, consciously or otherwise,…
…recent (or not-so-recent) words of wit or wisdom from the realms of economics and finance. These could be theoretical insights, sound-bites from the economic crisis of the past few years,…
…to value these mortgage-backed securities. 4) If indeed mortgages are stripped into pieces, weren’t people worried about the complications that would result when these mortgages were divided into pieces? Usually,…
Then today is your lucky day. Here’s a request we received from friends at a TV production company: We’re casting the first season of Enter the Wild, an inspiring documentary…
If we could reboot the planet and create new systems and institutions from scratch, would they be any better than what we’ve blundered our way into through trial and error?…
Why does listening to No Stupid Questions feel like you’re hanging out with your best friends? Why did the whole world take it personally when Princess Diana died? And how…
Is it better to be the best player on the worst team or the worst player on the best team? How did Angela cope with her extremely impressive freshman dorm-mates?…
Astronomer Jill Tarter spent her career searching for extraterrestrial intelligence. She explains what civilizations from other planets could teach us about our own future….
The psychologist Angela Duckworth argues that a person’s level of stick-to-itiveness is directly related to their level of success. No big surprise there. But grit, she says, isn’t something you’re…
It isn’t just supply and demand. We look at the complicated history and skewed incentives that make “affordable housing” more punch line than reality in cities from New York and…
Gun control, abortion rights, drug legalization — it seems like every argument these days claims that if X happens, then Y will follow, and we’ll all be doomed to Z….
Caroline Paul is a thrill-seeker and writer who is on a quest to encourage women to get outside and embrace adventure as they age. She and Steve talk about fighting…
What happens when machines become funnier, kinder, and more empathetic than humans? Do robot therapists save lives? And should Angela credit her virtual assistant as a co-author of her book?…
