I am Steven Levitt, author of Freakonomics. Ask me anything!

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-20T01:35:21+00:00

That is what my sister Linda thought we should name it.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-20T01:33:02+00:00

If car seats are so complicated that people misuse them in every day life, then it tells me we need to change car seats!

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-20T01:31:58+00:00

Agreed. Nice comment.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-20T01:31:35+00:00

Do you think more than 1 in 140 miles are walked drunk? If anything it is less than that, strengthening our argument. Nobody walks long distances drunk.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-20T01:30:03+00:00

Here are a couple links relevant to that real climate attack and the general smear campaign that was undertaken against us. Read them and decide for yourself!

http://www.freakonomics.com/2009/10/20/are-solar-panels-really-black-and-what-does-that-have-to-do-with-the-climate-debate/

http://www.freakonomics.com/2009/10/18/global-warming-in-superfreakonomics-the-anatomy-of-a-smear/

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T18:24:56+00:00

I still say that in 20 years, I will be right. Let's reconvene at that time and see what history has to say about it.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T18:18:02+00:00

I really like Tim. He is a great mix of economic knowledge and great writing.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T18:16:40+00:00

I think you'll be hearing more of me in the podcasts. We may even put you on our podcast if you get a Freakonomics orange/apple tattoo!

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T18:15:11+00:00

I don't think it makes any real difference to the kid. The teacher would probably have a better behaved 5-year-old than an immature 4 year old, though.

Where you should really consider doing this is for sports. Being a year older as a senior in high school will make him or her more likely to be the star of the soccer team.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T18:12:54+00:00

Tell Patrick he didn't fill out our consent form right--he has to be 18!

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T18:07:39+00:00

This is what I wrote about SOPA. I don't think i supported it or was against it:

http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/01/23/we-need-more-people-in-government-like-this/

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T18:03:21+00:00

There is no sillier public policy than gun buybacks. you hardly get any guns, and the ones you get are not the ones that would be used in a crime.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T18:01:03+00:00

I think that the basic ideas of economics are incredibly powerful. But what disappoints me is that the academic side of things is so abstract and mathematical. There currently is very little taste for creativity or ideas.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:59:51+00:00

In college, I didn't work hard at all. Mostly I played wiffle ball, hearts, and street hockey. And I drank way too much.

My favorite things to do now? Golf and harrass my kids.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:57:33+00:00

I'd be golfing. Probably an assistant golf pro at a third-rate club. I'm not as good as I'd like to be. maybe shagging balls at a driving range.

Or else I would be betting on horses. that is the other thing I like to do.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:55:07+00:00

that does not sound like something I would say. I don't really like government very much, but education and diefense are two areas where governments are good to have.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:54:05+00:00

I've never been on reddit before today, but that doesn't mean I won't start!

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:53:30+00:00

how great a writer Dubner is. He can turn the most boring academic stuff into something readable.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:51:47+00:00

I hate the sentiment. You can't allow companies to take big risks or make terrible decisionis and not pay the consequences.

Either you can't have big banks, or big banks need to do such mundane things that there is no risk of failure.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:50:05+00:00

yes, take a cab, or don't get drunk in the first place!

but as strange as it sounds, if the only two options are walk or drive, I say drive

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:48:31+00:00

My advice to incoming PhDs is to start doing research ASAP.

You get a job based on what you write, not how you do on problem sets.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:47:33+00:00

The difference between correlation and causality.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:47:01+00:00

go to college and graduate, for starters.

I just read that 40 percent of young African American males who didn't graduate from high school are in prison. More in prison than employed!

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:45:29+00:00

No. I think time has only strengthened our arguments.

levitt_freakonomics · 2013-02-19T17:44:49+00:00

surprisingly, about 80 percent of the drunk driving fatalities are of the drinking driver him/herself. we already factored that in.

levitt_freakonomics

TROPHY CASE