Freakonomics Radio

You wouldn’t think you could win a Nobel Prize for showing that humans tend to make irrational decisions. But that’s what Richard Thaler has done. The founder of behavioral economics describes his unlikely route to success; his reputation for being lazy; and his efforts to fix the world — one nudge at a time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After 8 years and more than 300 episodes, it was time to either 1) quit, or 2) make the show bigger and better. We voted for number 2. Here’s a peek behind the curtain and a preview of what you’ll be hearing next. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What do Renaissance painting, civil-rights movements, and Olympic cycling have in common? In each case, huge breakthroughs came from taking tiny steps. In a world where everyone is looking for the next moonshot, we shouldn’t ignore the power of incrementalism. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

For soccer fans, it's easy. For the rest of us? Not so much, especially since the U.S. team didn't qualify. So here's what to watch for even if you have no team to root for. Because the World Cup isn't just a gargantuan sporting evént; it's a microcosm of human foibles and (yep) economic theory brought to life. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dan Doctoroff, CEO of Sidewalk Labs and former Deputy Mayor of New York City, shares his vision for the future of urban living. He discusses the rise of cities amid urbanization, the challenges of retrofitting aging infrastructures, and the innovative projects he spearheaded in NYC. Doctoroff highlights the balance between corporate needs and enhancing quality of life. He also emphasizes the importance of flexibility in urban design, showcasing successful initiatives like the High Line and the transformative power of strategic planning for smart cities.

Nearly two percent of America is grassy green. Sure, lawns are beautiful and useful and they smell great. But are the costs — financial, environmental and otherwise — worth the benefits? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pharmaceutical firms donate an enormous amount of their products (and some cash too). But it doesn't seem to be helping their reputation. We ask Pfizer's generosity chief why the company gives so much, who it really helps, and whether all this philanthropy is just corporate whitewashing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The podcast explores the concept of corporate social responsibility and its effects on employee behavior, including how CSR can incentivize employees to work harder while also potentially serving as a moral license for unethical behavior. It discusses the impact of CSR messaging on worker behavior and delves into the phenomenon of moral licensing, where expressing support for socially responsible behavior can lead to unethical acts. Additionally, the podcast touches on the influence of Big Pharma on drug prices and Congress, highlighting frustration towards the greed of the industry.

We all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.” Most of the time, they don't actually mean what we think they mean. But don't worry — the experts are getting it wrong, too. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.