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.
This paper aims to present the book review of ‘Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything’ along with the main arguments, course applications and personal opinions.
In the novel, “Freakonomics,” by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, many topics and their hidden sides are brought up that not many people think twice about. This book has no one theme. Instead, it is about “stripping a layer or two from the surface of modern life and seeing what is happening underneath.”(Levitt and Dubner, 2005, pg. 11) They are not looking at the surface of common occurrences or issues, but passed what most people see. They explain the hidden side to everything. This ranges from topics about choosing your child’s name to how guns affect the crime rate.
The third chapter of Freakonomics begins by introducing the idea that good questions can lead to unique answers, but only if the conventional wisdom can be overturned. Conventional wisdom is classified by John Galbraith as being simple, convenient, and comforting but not necessarily truthful (Levitt & Dubner, 2009). The piece then talks about trying to identify the situations where the conventional wisdom is false and usually triumphs. The piece provides some different examples that are usually taken at face value, like statistics concerning homelessness and the possibility of being victim of rape or attempted rape. The writers move on to talking about the police departments that painted a picture of crack dealers who had weapons and large sums of cash (Levitt & Dubner, 2009). That image infuriated law abiding citizens, but in reality drug dealers usually live in the projects and most still with their mothers.
“When it is useful to them, men can believe a theory of which they know nothing more than its name.”- Vilfredo Pareto.
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.
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
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.
Freakonomics is a non-fiction book that talks about how everything has a hidden side to it. Steven D. Levitt and Stephan J. Dubner are both economist and authors’ of the book. Published in 2005 the book was made into a controversy due to its view points and was even a New York Times Bestseller.
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
...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.
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.
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.
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
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