Freakonomics Radio 628. Sludge, Part 2: Is Government the Problem, or the Solution?
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Apr 4, 2025 
Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America, teams up with UC Berkeley's Benjamin Handel, an expert in health care economics. They dive into the sludge of bureaucratic inefficiencies in Washington, D.C., and how even Elon Musk is implicated. The discussion touches on consumer rights, data privacy in healthcare, and the pressing need for reform in government digital infrastructure. They offer innovative solutions for reducing complexity and enhancing service delivery, all while advocating for a future where technology streamlines rather than complicates.
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Newspaper Subscription Cancellations
- Neale Mahoney's team tested how hard it is to cancel newspaper subscriptions.
- They found that many newspapers make canceling online difficult, even in states with consumer protection laws.
Click to Cancel
- Companies intentionally create sludge to discourage cancellations.
- New "click to cancel" regulations aim to simplify this process.
Healthcare Sludge
- Healthcare sludge stems from insurance companies' profit motives and complex regulations.
- Integrating consumer data with AI could help navigate these complexities, but privacy concerns pose a challenge.
