Is overconsolidation a threat to democracy? That’s the worry. Even the humble eyeglass industry is dominated by a single firm. We look into the global spike in myopia, how the Lemtosh got its name, and what your eye doctor knows that you don’t. (Part two of a two-part series.) https://freak.ws/3WmdeJP
Freakonomics
Online Audio and Video Media
New York, New York 94,434 followers
The Hidden Side of Everything.
About us
It began when New York journalist and author Stephen J. Dubner went to Chicago to write about award-winning economist Steven D. Levitt for The New York Times Magazine. Dubner had been reluctant to take the assignment (he was in the middle of writing a book about the psychology of money). Levitt was reluctant to be shadowed by a journalist (but his mother loved the Times Magazine, so he gave in). The article came out, and led to an unexpected partnership. Levitt and Dubner wrote Freakonomics, a book about cheating teachers, bizarre baby names, self-dealing Realtors, and crack-selling mama’s boys. They figured it would sell about 80 copies. Instead, it took up long-term residency on the Times best-seller list, and went on to sell more than 4 million copies in 35 languages. Then they wrote SuperFreakonomics. It also became a worldwide best-seller. A lot of other stuff happened, too. A blog. A documentary film. Jon Stewart and Beauty and the Geek! Lectures. A pair of pants. A radio show. Not bad for a partnership born of such profound reluctance.
- Website
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http://www.freakonomics.com
External link for Freakonomics
- Industry
- Online Audio and Video Media
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- New York, New York
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2005
Locations
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Manhattan
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Employees at Freakonomics
Updates
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Richard Prum says there’s a lot that traditional evolutionary biology can’t explain. He thinks a neglected hypothesis from Charles Darwin — and insights from contemporary queer theory — hold the answer. Plus: You won’t believe what female ducks use for contraception. https://freak.ws/3LBRIvz
The World’s Most Controversial Ornithologist - Freakonomics
https://freakonomics.com
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What happens when you’re cut off from all human contact? How is the brain affected by solitary confinement? How would you deal with being stranded on a deserted island? And do baby monkeys make the best therapists? https://freak.ws/4fdEuCz
What Happens When You’re Cut Off From All Human Contact? - Freakonomics
https://freakonomics.com
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Performing at a strip club can be lucrative, but it requires financial and psychological savvy — and an eye for social trends. Zachary Crockett takes a look. https://freak.ws/4ddpjI6
Strippers - Freakonomics
https://freakonomics.com
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A single company, EssilorLuxottica, owns so much of the eyewear industry that it’s hard to escape their gravitational pull — or their “obscene” markups. Should regulators do something? Can Warby Parker steal market share? And how did Ray-Bans become a luxury brand? (Part one of a two-part series.) https://freak.ws/4bNTcxd
Why Do Your Eyeglasses Cost $1,000? - Freakonomics
https://freakonomics.com
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Do you need a hug? Do humans need touch to survive? Do any of us get enough touch throughout our lives? And why doesn’t Angela want to hug anyone for eight seconds? https://freak.ws/3Lq1Mry
Do You Need a Hug? - Freakonomics
https://freakonomics.com
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Why does treating a venomous snake bite cost as much as a house? Zachary Crockett slithers over to North Carolina to find out. https://freak.ws/3LtePrS
Snake Venom - Freakonomics
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You wouldn’t think you could win a Nobel Prize for showing that humans tend to make irrational decisions. But that’s what Richard Thaler has done. In an interview from 2018, the founder of behavioral economics describes his unlikely route to success; his reputation for being lazy; and his efforts to fix the world — one nudge at a time. https://freak.ws/3W5hHQN
People Aren’t Dumb. The World Is Hard. (Update) - Freakonomics
https://freakonomics.com
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Daniel Kahneman left his mark on academia (and the real world) in countless ways. A group of his friends and colleagues recently gathered in Chicago to reflect on this legacy — and we were there, with microphones. https://freak.ws/4cUZMTQ
Farewell to a Generational Talent - Freakonomics
https://freakonomics.com
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Thomas Hildebrandt is trying to bring the northern white rhinoceros back from the brink of extinction. The wildlife veterinarian tells Steve about the far-out techniques he employs, why we might see woolly mammoths in the future, and why he was frustrated the day the Berlin Wall came down. https://freak.ws/3LeB4lh
How to Grow a White Rhino - Freakonomics
https://freakonomics.com