Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences. The annual Nobel Prize winner in that field never receives as much publicity as his or her compatriots in peace, literature, or physics. But if such slights are based on the notion that economics is dull, or that economists are concerned only with finance itself, Steven D. Levitt will change some minds. In Freakonomics (written with Stephen J. Dubner), Levitt argues that many apparent mysteries of everyday life don't need to be so mysterious: they could be illuminated and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. For example, Levitt traces the drop in violent crime rates to a drop in violent criminals and, digging further, to the Roe v. Wade decision that preempted the existence of some people who would be born to poverty and hardship. Elsewhere, by analyzing data gathered from inner-city Chicago drug-dealing gangs, Levitt outlines a corporate structure much like McDonald's, where the top bosses make great money while scores of underlings make something below minimum wage. And in a section that may alarm or relieve worried parents, Levitt argues that parenting methods don't really matter much and that a backyard swimming pool is much more dangerous than a gun. These enlightening chapters are separated by effusive passages from Dubner's 2003 profile of Levitt in The New York Times Magazine, which led to the book being written. In a book filled with bold logic, such back-patting veers Freakonomics, however briefly, away from what Levitt actually has to say. Although maybe there's a good economic reason for that too, and we're just not getting it yet. --John Moe -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

“If Indiana Jones were an economist, he’d be Steven Levitt… Criticizing Freakonomics would be like criticizing a hot fudge sundae.” (Wall Street Journal )

“Provocative… eye-popping.” (New York Times Book Review: Inside the List )

“The guy is interesting!” (Washington Post Book World )

“The funkiest study of statistical mechanics ever by a world-renowned economist... Eye-opening and sometimes eye-popping” (Entertainment Weekly )

“Steven Levitt has the most interesting mind in America... Prepare to be dazzled.” (Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point )

“Principles of economics are used to examine daily life in this fun read.” (People: Great Reads )

“Levitt dissects complex real-world phenomena, e.g. baby-naming patterns and Sumo wrestling, with an economist’s laser.” (San Diego Union-Tribune )

“Levitt is a number cruncher extraordinaire.” (Philadelphia Daily News )

“Levitt is one of the most notorious economists of our age.” (Financial Times )

“Hard to resist.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )

“Freakonomics is politically incorrect in the best, most essential way.... This is bracing fun of the highest order.” (Kurt Andersen, host of public radio's Studio 360 and author of Turn of the Century )

“Freakonomics was the ‘It’ book of 2005.” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram )

“An eye-opening, and most interesting, approach to the world.” (Kirkus Reviews )

“An unconventional economist defies conventional wisdom.” (Associated Press )

“A showcase for Levitt’s intriguing explorations into a number of disparate topics…. There’s plenty of fun to be had.” (Salon.com )

“One of the decade’s most intelligent and provocative books.” (The Daily Standard )

“Freakonomics challenges conventional wisdom and makes for fun reading.” (Book Sense Picks and Notables )

“The trivia alone is worth the cover price.” (New York Times Book Review )

“An easy, funny read. Many unsolvable problems the Americans have could be solved with simple means.” (Business World )

“Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences.... Steven D. Levitt will change some minds.” (Amazon.com )