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Freakonomics book review
Freakonomics book review
Freakonomics chapter summary
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A number one bestseller many say is grasping in amazement: Freakonomics is said to unravel the untold stories of life. Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner break common misconceptions of economics by revealing its true science. Freakonomics shatters the view of economics being an arid study of finance and markets. They pull in information to make inferences on past occurrences subtly influence on the present. Freakonomics packs punches with its countless number of tables and figures, serving as concrete data to make their assumptions. Levitt & Dubner in the beginning identify the fundamental Latin phrase post hoc ergo propter hoc in the sentence, “…just because two things are correlated does not mean that one causes the other”, due to their entire novel being based on correlation. Freakonomics’ explicit exploration of the hidden side of everything captivate economist with unmentioned inferences backed up with reasoned correlation, linking compelling topics to shatter misconceptions about controversial stories, ending with a brief consensus of economic pattern limitations.
Dubner & Levitt were prompted by the riddles of everyday life to write their novel. Curiosity was the main fuel that caused them to collaborate together. Dubner & Levitt clearly wrote Freakonomics in order to enlighten people. From the get go their objective is simply to get people to look at the world in their personal contacts. Anyone who has ever paid attention or heard the word economics is part of Dubner & Levitt’s audience. Freakonomics selective permeability in data helps breakdown complex information to a more elementary concrete form. Essentially, anyone who can read or write can read Freakonomics. Dubner & Levitt wrote their novel in this manner ...
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...that even with the science of economics it also has its limits. They systematically do, and note this so that they leave nothing unexplored which may destroy their credibility, in turn making their claims loose.
Revealing the hidden side of life in clarity, Freakonomics draws in all economists with unmentioned assumptions which are upheld with reasoned correlation, bonding subjects that unveil misconceptions, concluding on economic pattern limitations. Effectively, they lead their audience on their conviction route as smoothly as possible. Nice job on not screwing the map up. Allowing them to achieve their goals, this was to change people’s views. By the time a person puts down Freakonomics, they have been led to conviction about all their claims because Dubner & Levitt know that in order to change someone else’s way of thinking you must change your own.
Curiosity and neediness attract humans to philosophy, in a similar way that they attract humans to religious dogma, cults and magic. Fortunately, nature narratives draw on human interests in various disciplines without simultaneously wreaking havoc on society. Writing helps us create and understand ideas. Personal values and scientific information are often used interchangeably by Barry Lopez and Scott Russell Sanders. Unless the reader is indifferent, both writers prove they are capable of illustrating essential elements of the human experience in both public and private moments. As readers, we are bonded to Lopez and Sanders because of our role in the innate chaos of human interaction.
The book “Freakonomics” by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner is a dissection of anecdotes. The authors intensely dismantle ideas that are social norms, using economic and demographic data. The book has no central theme other than to “explore the hidden side of… everything.”pg.14 One chapter the subject will be on corruption in the sumo wrestling community, then another on how legalizing abortion lowers crime rates, then another on what effect parenting has on children. Chapter three explains why the popular idea that most drug dealers were rich is almost entirely false. The authors blame the media for this idea. When crack cocaine first started to appear en masse, the cops and the media put an emphasis on how unfair the fight was, because the
Overall Freakemonomics was and easy to read, even for those people who don’t read a lot about economics. They are able to use the fundamental notions of economics to interpret just about everything in modern society. It incorporated all areas of economics in interesting ways and provided plenty of data to back up the authors ideas. Whether you agree or disagree with the authors have given plenty of unconventional ideas that will make you question what you have always considered conventional wisdom.
...lows for the economy to flow and move product better, literally. His ideas on investing on education are also another great idea. Professor Galbraith is genius enough to put together these areas and show a realistic problem. Books like these were unheard of at the time. To reach down and grab at these facts and make them work is pretty awesome. Now I think maybe some of his personal beliefs are showing a negative light on some areas, but at least he is putting light to the problem. This book does a good job of showing the beginnings of the wealth gap that is now today. I don’t think Professor Galbraith had any idea that these theories would stand today. One has to approve the remarkable intelligence the man has, to point out these different topics in order to show a greater problem. His idea on investing in the highway system is probably one of my favorite ideas.
This essay gives a summary of chapter 4 of Stephen Leavitt and Steve Dubner’s “Freakonomics.” Chapter 4 of the book reads, “Where have All the Criminals Gone.” The summary utilizes “Steps for Better Thinking” model constructed by Wolcott. This model helps the reader in breaking down complex pieces of literature into simpler bits to facilitate the process of critical thinking. This essay makes the best use of Wolcott’s model given the fact that chapter 4 of “Freakonomics” gives the ideal situation in which the practical aspect of the model can be exploited.
“When it is useful to them, men can believe a theory of which they know nothing more than its name.”- Vilfredo Pareto.
Levitt starts off Freakonomics by stating that the intent of the book is “to explore the hidden side of things and the subtle relationships that link everyday phenomena.” In my eyes, this perfectly summarizes not only the book, but the concept of economics as a whole. After reading Freakonomics, I have become motivated to rethink my outlook on the world and how I perceive the events that surround me in terms of relating to one another and to the subject of economics.
Chapters four and five of Freakonomics by Steven Levitt, discuss two interesting cases. In the beginning of chapter four, Steven Levitt starts off by arguing that the legalization of abortion played a big role in the sudden reduction in the crime rate in the United States approximately twenty years later. He then goes into the next chapter where he establishes a correlation between how a child is raised and later test scores. Furthermore, in his book he states many reasons for his argument and correlation.
Chapter 1: In the novel of Freakonomics written by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, it clearly shows how economic incentives in our society would make a usual honest person decide to commit the act of cheating. If that person comes across the thought of cheating, it usually is for a personal well being. By that I mean they are obviously doing it for an important reason because normally they would never think about committing an act that is morally wrong. The two groups in the chapter that I feel have the most similar qualities were the teachers and the sumo wrestlers. They can stand and talk for hours on the subject they love, but it 's been proven that they cheat. Who do you ask? Teachers. According to the novel "An analysis of the
I first thought that the authors’ purpose was to inform the public about how we have to analyze things more closely in order to find the truth. However upon reading the epilogue, in the end, the authors reveal that they don’t really want people to take action after reading the book per say. They just want people to be more cautious towards generally accepted beliefs/opinions, or “conventional wisdom” as the authors phrase it in the book. Again in the epilogue the authors state that there is no unifying theme in the book, although I do believe that conventional wisdom and analyzing things more closely are big themes
I really like economics, it is an interesting combination of math, behavioral science, and logic, that can be used to make unique observations of the world as we know it. Unfortunately, like most academic disciplines it suffers from its faults. Even though these faults are not unique to economics, instead they are pervasive in many academic disciplines. Nor are the new, as they have been around more or less since the start of modern academics. Yet until they are fixed they need to be continually addressed, so that we can take in to account the inherent bias that comes with them. These faults can be expressed in one phrase “Rich White Men.” This phrase incorporates the three biggest failings in the field of economics. Which are, that most people in the field have a greater level of means than many of those that they choose to study, they are mostly of European Caucasian descent, and that they tend to be male. Qualities that introduce an inherent bias in to their world view. This is not to say that people in the field of economics are
His stylistic choices assist him in doing so. In his writing, the reader could easily identify that Krugman cares about the middle class from how much he revealed about himself, and how passionately he writes this chapter. Also, he demonstrates to the reader that he is being honest and you can trust what he is writing. Krugman teaches economics at Princeton and has won a Nobel Prize in economics, so the reader is more likely to trust what he has to say. In addition to him appealing to a more ethical side, Krugman, also, appeals to a more sensitive side by mentioning children’s education. Most of the time, that will hit home for most people. Lastly, He uses his knowledge and evidence to make appeals to the reader’s rational side. From beginning to end, the author uses logic to present the problem and to bring to existence the solutions he offers. His use of rhetorical devices are effective in making a convincing argument. Krugman formatted the chapter in a well composed format that was effortlessly understood. His word choice showed passion, but the voice did not sound bitter or angry. Krugman communicates effectively his purpose for his piece of writing, and he established a well written
A high standard of living is the level of wealth, comfort, material goods and necessities available to a certain socioeconomic class or a certain geographic area. To sum it up, your lifestyle is based on where you live. If you live in an area of poverty, then your setting is most likely surrounded by poverty. Charles Wheelan, author of Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science, stated that Human capital is what makes an individual, productivity is what determines our standard of living (Wheelan,301). Economic growth, measured as the growth rate of per capita real GDP, is the key determinant of living standards in nations across time. (Coppock, ) To avoid such a low standard of living places like The United States of are in the process
One would want to witness this statement within all-source analysis as it is ideal. Even though this statement is ideal it is completely unfair to analysts. Analysts are expected to use specific knowledge to answer the questions of policymakers, their own views should not play a part in decision making. Bias is prohibited and unprofessional in all-source analysis. Nevertheless, bias is innate and cannot be turned off like a switch.
Friedman, Thomas L. “It’s a Flat World, After All.” New York Times Magazine 3 Apr. 2005. Print.