Freakonomics Radio In Praise of Maintenance (Rebroadcast)
Jun 21, 2018
The podcast discusses the societal bias towards innovation over maintenance, highlighting the importance of preserving creations. It explores the undervalued realm of maintenance work in engineering and the economic implications of infrastructure neglect. The dynamic between innovation and maintenance is explored, emphasizing the essential role of upkeep in sustaining infrastructure and facilitating innovation.
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Culture's Bias: Innovation Over Maintenance
- Our culture obsessively favors innovation while undervaluing maintenance and maintainers.
- Recognizing the nobility and necessity of maintenance offers a more balanced societal perspective.
The Innovation-Maintenance Cycle Trap
- The obsession with new things leads to underinvestment in maintaining existing infrastructure.
- This cycle causes deterioration needing even more costly new solutions, wasting resources.
Manila's Sewage Maintenance Resistance
- Manila's sewage system often flows untreated into the bay due to infrequent septic tank cleaning.
- Residents resist maintenance because of disruption and perceived inconvenience despite health risks.