566. Why Is It So Hard (and Expensive) t...

... of bad reviews, meager financing, or artificial intelligence. But he is worried that the world is full of sloppy thinkers who mistake facts for the truth. SOURCES: Werner Herzog, writer, filmmaker, and actor. RESOURCES: The Future of Truth, by Werner Herzog (2025). Every Man ... Show More

Existing drugs can sometimes be repurposed to treat rare diseases. But making that match can be hard — and the financial incentives are weak. Guest host Steve Levitt tries to solve the puzzle. SOURCES: Chris Snyder, professor of economics at Dartmouth College. David Fajgenbaum, c ... Show More

When Richard Thaler first published Nudge, the world was just starting to believe in his brand of behavioral economics. In this 2021 episode, we ask: How has nudge theory held up in the face of a global financial meltdown, a pandemic, and other existential crises? SOURCES:Richard ... Show More

<p>The village is aglow! In episode 97 of Overthink, Ellie and David guide you through the ideas that make a metropolis tick. From Plato’s spotless Republic to Saudi Arabia’s futuristic The Line, they talk the foul and the vibrant of what it means to live in a city. Why are there ... Show More

<p>Google researcher Blaise Agüera y Arcas spends his work days developing artificial intelligence models and his free time conducting surveys for fun. He tells Steve how he designed an algorithm for the U.S. Navy at 14, how he discovered the truth about printing-press pioneer Jo ... Show More

<p>Where is the line between a good guy and a doormat? Do people with sharp elbows make more money? And why did Angela’s mother give away her birthday present?</p><p>Take the Big Five inventory: <a href="http://freakonomics.com/bigfive" target="_blank">freakonomics.com/bigfive</a ... Show More

<p>For Doreen Massey, every place poses a challenge, “the challenge of negotiating a here-and-now” – or what she called <em>throwntogetherness</em>. In this episode, we hear about different struggles to make cities more liveable – and more <em>just</em> – for the many, not the fe ... Show More

<p>Is it really that important to make your bed? What’s the benefit of hiring a lazy person? And how many cups of spinach can Mike fit in a red Solo cup?  </p><p>Take the Big Five inventory: <a href="http://freakonomics.com/bigfive" target="_blank">freakonomics.com/bigfive</a></p ... Show More

<p>One of the biggest challenges facing London is the need to provide housing and infrastructure for the city's residents and workers. To deal with increasing demand, we need our buildings to be designed with the circular economy at their heart.</p><p>In this episode we’ll hear f ... Show More