Freakonomics Radio 595. Why Don't We Have Better Candidates for President?
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Jul 4, 2024 
In this thought-provoking discussion, Andrew Yang, a former presidential candidate and entrepreneur, joins Michael Porter, a Harvard Business School professor, and Katherine Gehl, a former CEO, to tackle the flaws of the American political duopoly. They explore how entrenched parties stifle competition and the challenges faced by reform-minded candidates. The trio emphasizes innovative solutions like ranked choice voting and nonpartisan primaries to revitalize democracy, advocating for structural reforms to better represent voters and foster genuine political competition.
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Political Duopoly
- The U.S. political system, with its two dominant parties, resembles a duopoly, much like Coke and Pepsi.
- This structure stifles competition and often leads to voter dissatisfaction.
Duopoly Examples
- Google's 90% market share in search engines exemplifies near-monopoly, while Coke and Pepsi's rivalry illustrates a duopoly.
- Duopolies, like Coke and Pepsi, often perpetuate themselves by dominating the market.
Politics as an Industry
- The political system operates like an industry, prioritizing its own gain over public service.
- This system, much like Coke and Pepsi's, thrives on self-perpetuation and control.
