Most industries have become more productive over time. But not construction! We identify the causes — and possible solutions. (Can you say ... “prefab”?)
Nov 14
653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future?
<p>Thoroughbred auction prices keep setting records. But tracks are closing, gambling revenues are falling, and the sport is increasingly reliant on subsidies. Is that the kind of long shot anybody wants? (Part three of a series, “<a href="https://freakonomics.com/the-horse-is-us ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 2024
124. Daron Acemoglu on Economics, Politics, and Power
<p>Economist Daron Acemoglu likes to tackle big questions. He tells Steve how colonialism still affects us today, who benefits from new technology, and why democracy wasn’t always a sure thing.</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCE:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://economics.mit.edu/ ... Show More
44m 32s
Oct 2023
165. Do "Generations" Mean Anything?
<p>Do you get grittier as you age? What's worse for mental health: video games or social media? And do baby boomers make the best D.J.s? </p><p> </p><p>RESOURCES:</p><ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3RBMjZs"><i>Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, ... Show More
37m 29s
Mar 2024
188. Why Do Kids Today Get So Many A’s?
<p>Is grade inflation on the rise? How much does your G.P.A. matter in the long run? And when did M.I.T., of all places, become “the cool university”?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthugo/">Scott Hugo</a>, housing just ... Show More
41m 41s
Jan 2023
Cities for the Many Not the Few
<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
32m 1s