Transcript FREAKANOMICS

FREAKONOMICS
An introduction
What is an economist?
 A person who works in the field of
economics.
 Economics is the science that deals with
the production, distribution, and
consumption of goods and services, or
the material welfare of humankind.
Steven Levitt—the
economist
 Professor of economics
at the University of Chicago
 Best known for his work
in linking economics to crime
 Winner of John Bates
Clark medal awarded
“to the American economist under the age of
forty who is adjudged to have made a
significant contribution to economic thought
and knowledge.”
Stephen Dubner—a
journalist
 Former writer and editor
at the New York Times
Magazine
 Taught English at Columbia
University
About the book
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Pop culture meets economics
Sold over 4 million copies worldwide
Adds sociology in the mix
Utilizes the concept of data mining to uncover
hidden truths about society
 Data mining is a process of translating large
amounts of data to find connections between types
of information that don’t seem to be related.
Freakonomics as
argument
 You can expect:
 Heavy logos (this is about numbers…)
 Some pathos (humor, most often)
 Some ethos (credible speakers)
 The study of incentives:
 Freakonomics » Videos