Freakonomics Review

Freakonomics is a compelling and thought-provoking book, that explores incentives and how different people in different professions respond to the world and economy around them. Levitt and Dubner explore a diverse range of subjects: from linking Roe v. Wade to violent crime, cheating by teachers and sumo wrestlers to an economic model of drug dealing.

I loved this book; however, I think the title is rather misleading, it’s not really about economics but in fact, more about discovering problems in society through statistical analysis where you wouldn’t normally think of using it. The most fascinating and startling example was the fall in US crime rates towards the end of the 20th century. Levitt’s inquiry over how crime rates had been continuously rising and then suddenly, peaked and started to decline Why? His theories and reasoning were all superficially plausible.

However, this book does have some downsides, the authors touch on controversial topics with observations, and back these observations up with very watered-down statistics, lacking detail in their hypothesis. This made it difficult to truly believe the link between some topics they were claiming to associate with each other.

Overall, I would recommend this book as a fun read that opens your mind to a different way of thinking however, economically it is not the most useful book out there.

Rating: 7/10

Elisha Togher