Freakonomics, published in 2005, pairs the University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt with the journalist Stephen Dubner. Its premise is that economics is at heart the study of incentives, and that careful use of data can reveal hidden truths about everyday life that conventional wisdom gets wrong.
Each chapter takes a curious question. Do schoolteachers cheat on standardised tests, and can the data catch them? What do real-estate agents and the Ku Klux Klan have in common in their use of information? Why do so many crack dealers live with their mothers? What really drove the fall in American crime in the 1990s? How much does parenting matter, and what do baby names reveal about class and aspiration?
The writing is breezy and the conclusions often counterintuitive, which made the book a huge bestseller and launched a podcast, sequels and a documentary. Some findings, especially its controversial argument linking legalised abortion to lower crime, have been strongly debated. Its lasting influence lies in popularising a data-driven, incentive-focused way of looking at the world.
Book details
| Author | Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner |
|---|---|
| First published | 2005 |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Economics |
| Type | Non-fiction |
| Pages (approx.) | 270 |
Themes
- Incentives
- Data analysis
- Conventional wisdom
- Crime and cheating
- Information asymmetry
Who should read it
Readers who enjoy surprising, data-driven answers to everyday questions and want economics without the jargon.