Find a summary of this and each chapter of freakonomics. A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything. Freakonomics freakonomics a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything steven d. The success of freakonomics had one particularly strange byproduct. Value investors who can grasp the power of incentives put themselves in a position to understand which companies are utilizing the full potential of their managements. Get the entire freakonomics litchart as a printable pdf.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of freakonomics by steven levitt. Apr 27, 2012 chapter 4 focuses on the sharp drop in crime rates in the 1990s, which was caused principally by legalization of abortion. Essay freakonomics chapter 1 summary 688 words 3 pages freakonomics chapter 1 summary in chapter one of freakonomics, stephen dubner and steven levitt describe how when incentives are strong enough, many usually honest people from different walks of life will cheat in order to gain financially or climb the ladder in their careers. Freakonomics is one of the best books on human psychology ive ever read. It was published on april 12, 2005, by william morrow. A person does not need to be an economist to enjoy freakonomics and will find the novel intellectual but fun. Then the court case of roe vs wade gets brought up and i was very confused.
If there are more police in the state, there will be less crimes in the state because of the number of police. Anyone who avoids having children is a deserter who abandons the laws of national continuity. Freakonomics, the popeconomics or popstatistics genre has attracted a surge of interest, with more authors adopting an anecdotal, narrative style. In chapter 4, the authors argue that data reveal that the primary reason for the plummeting crime rates in the united states in the 1990s is the 1973 roe v. Chapter 4 mikallah pulliam, taylor reed, and hanna alfredsson overview chapter 4 of freakonomics addresses the sudden drop in crime during the 90s, and the factors which may have caused it. So in fairness, had freakonomics not included all the articles and references, i would have rated it a 4. Chapter 4 of freakonomics addresses the sudden drop in crime rates during the 1990s, and the various factors which may have caused it.
The authors identify eight popular explanations for the falling crime rate of the 1990s. The effect of legalized abortion on crime is a controversial hypothesis about the reduction in. Dubner contents an explanatory note in which the origins of this book are clarified. The chapter searches for any possible cause of this and every expert mentioned seems to be clueless on what could be the possible cause. Oct 31, 2009 superfreakonomics chapter 1 so much attention has been focussed on chapter 5 of superfreakonomics which dealt with climate change policy that there has been little discussion of other chapters. He acknowledges that those unborn children of mothers who had abortions would be much more likely to grow up to be criminals had they been born, having primarily been raised in lowincome, loweducation households. Next section chapter 5 summary and analysis previous section chapter 3 summary and analysis buy study guide. Aug 02, 2011 in chapter four of freakonomics the sudden drastic drop in crime in the early 1900s united states. Obsessive or not, any parent wants to believe that she is making a big difference in the kind of person her child turns out to be. May 15, 2005 4 when we compare arrest rates of people born in the same state, just before and just after abortion legalization, we once again see the identical pattern of lower arrest rates for those born after legalization than before. A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything is the debut. They present a valuable side of an argument that i had never pondered. A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything is the debut nonfiction book by university of chicago economist steven levitt and new york times journalist stephen j. Jan 02, 2016 freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between levitt and stephen j.
Chapter 4 deals with the lowering of the crime rate in america, in all categories of crime, during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Freakonomics chapter 1 summary and analysis gradesaver. I also watched the movie and read its summary on blinkist. It discussed changes in issues that was claimed to change crime rates some being more police activity, new police innovation, more prisons, changes in dug markets, aging of population, stronger economy, and gun laws. This was a very interesting chapter, as it compared the affect of the novel idea of legalizing abortion with much more traditional thoughts such as increased policing, improving policing strategies, gun control laws, increased jail time. Obsessive or not, any parent wants to believe that she is making a big difference in the. This chapter only consists of positive analysis, not normative analysiseven though levitts data has shown a relationship between these two factors, he does not attempt to pass a value judgment on the idea of legalized abortion itself. It also inspired a followup book, superfreakonomics. This chapter focused on the causes for crime rate decline in the 1990s. Astonishingly, research shows that one of the major factors contributing to the drop in crime rates was the establishment of roe v. Its important to note that a regression analysis can only show correlation, not causation. Some chapters, depending on the information, was more interesting than others. He drives an aging green chevy cavalier with a dusty dashboard and a window that doesnt quite shut, producing a dull roar at highway speeds.
Furthermore, it examines other explanations that have been offered for the crimedrop, including innovative policing strategies, reliance on prisons, and so on. As the authors of statisticsthemed books for general audiences, we can attest that levitt and dubners success is not easily attained. Superfreakonomics globalcooling,patrioticprostitutes. The chapter titles, i found to be intriguing and amusing, for example, what do school teachers and sumo wrestlers have in common. Superfreakonomics chapter 1 so much attention has been focussed on chapter 5 of superfreakonomics which dealt with climate change policy that there has been little discussion of other chapters. Various diverse theories have been proposed as to the drop in the crime rate, with numerous elected and judicial officials claiming credit due to their actions andor plans for reducing crime. Chapter 4 many of our decisions, both inside and outside the investment world, are often based on anecdotal information, anomalies, emotions, or existing opinions. Apr 18, 2010 in freakonomics, steven levitt shows us how pervasive incentives are in society, and what we can learn from that. Some of these questions concern lifeanddeath issues.
The original book, which used ideas from statistics and economics to explore realworld problems, was an instant. I found the chapter on crime rates dropping due to abortion to be particularly intriguing. In chapter four of freakonomics the sudden drastic drop in crime in the early 1900s united states. The hidden side of everything in which the books central idea is set forth. Wade supreme court decision generally legalizing abortion. Chapter 4 focuses on the sharp drop in crime rates in the 1990s, which was caused principally by legalization of abortion. In it, levitt and dubner throw their weight behind geoengineering, a climateremediation concept championed at the time by nathan myhrvold, a billionaire and former chief technology officer of microsoft. The climatechange chapter in superfreakonomics is a case in point. Last week, my blog post concerned chapter 4 of dubner and levitts freakonomics, which discussed the affect of legalized abortion on decreased crime rates. In chapter 2 of freakonomics, the authors wrote of their visit to folklorist. Freakonomics by steven levitt chapter 4 summary and analysis.
A states number of police can strongly influence the rate of crime. He begins the chapter with a questionone that might seem ludicrous at firstand then proceeds to answer it using the tools of economic analysis that are the subject of freakonomics. This study guide consists of approximately 71 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of freakonomics. Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between levitt and stephen j.
Examination of a very popular popular statistics series reveals avoidable errors andrew gelman, kaiser fung the nonfiction publishing phenomenon known as freakonomics has passed its sixth anniversary. This quote comes as levitt is connecting the roe v. Levitt uses this statistic and other data gleaned from sumo wrestling matches, along with the. Global cooling, patriotic prostitutes and why suicide bombers should buy life insurance author. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Information is a beacon, a cudgel, an olive branch, a deterrentall depending on who wields it and how.
Dubner explore how incentives and the laws of supply and demand are key to. The new york times bestselling freakonomics changed the way we see the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything. Freakonomics the most brilliant young economist in americathe one so deemed, at least, by a jury of his elders brakes to a stop at a traffic light on chicagos south side. Wade, babies that would have been born are not being born in the 1970s. Freakonomics a rogue economist explores the hidden side of. Anyone who avoids having children is a deserter who. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Superfreakonomics globalcooling,patrioticprostitutes,andwhysuicidebombersshouldbuylifeinsurancesteven d. The fetus is the prop erty of the entire society, he proclaimed. Essay freakonomics chapter 1 summary 688 words bartleby.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Freakonomics, the popeconomics or popstatistics genre has. By late 2009, the book had sold over 4 million copies worldwide. This book has the same lifechanging capability the paradox of choice does. I have now read chapter 1 which explored how prostitution was related to santa claus and was the second issue patriotic prostitutes on the. By 2011, it had sold more than four million copies worldwide, and it has sprouted a. They usually begin with a mountain of data and a simple, unasked question. The question and answer section for freakonomics is a great resource to ask questions, find answers. Pdf interesting questions in freakonomics researchgate. By the end of the chapter, this question will have been answered, and readers will be equipped with a new basis of knowledge to take with them in order to. Freakonomics chapter 4 summary and analysis gradesaver. Freakonomics a rogue economist explores the hidden. So much to learn about making good decisions in here.
Pdf freakonomics is more about entertainment than it is a serious attempt at. Freakonomics is a 2005 nonfiction book by economist steven levitt and journalist stephen j. Astonishingly, research shows that one of the major factors contributing to. Superfreakonomics illustrates how applying an economic approach can help us change this. In freakonomics, steven levitt shows us how pervasive incentives are in society, and what we can learn from that.