SuperFreakonomics audiobook cover - Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance

SuperFreakonomics

Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

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Economics

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SuperFreakonomics
The Power of Data & Economics+
Hidden Economics of Human Behavior+
Simple Solutions to Complex Problems+
Re-evaluating Global Warming+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9
What unintended consequence occurred when Germany introduced volume-based trash pickup fees to reduce waste?
  • A. People started burning their trash, significantly worsening local air quality.
  • B. People began flushing uneaten food down toilets, which increased the rat population.
  • C. People illegally dumped their garbage in neighboring countries to avoid the fees.
  • D. People stopped buying packaged goods entirely, causing a local economic downturn.
Question 2 of 9
How did objective statistical analysis change the perception of the 2001 'Summer of the Shark' in the US?
  • A. It revealed that shark attacks were actually consistent with average numbers from previous years.
  • B. It proved that global warming was driving sharks closer to populated shorelines.
  • C. It showed that a single, specific species of shark was responsible for 90% of the attacks.
  • D. It demonstrated that increased coastal tourism was the sole cause of the spike in attacks.
Question 3 of 9
According to the book, why did sex workers in the 1900s earn significantly higher wages compared to modern sex workers?
  • A. They had stronger labor unions that negotiated higher base rates.
  • B. There was less supply of willing women and higher risks associated with illegality and social stigma.
  • C. Modern sex workers rely more on digital platforms that take large commission fees.
  • D. The lack of alternative entertainment options in the 1900s drove up demand exponentially.
Question 4 of 9
What surprising discovery did economist Alan Krueger make when analyzing data about terrorists in Lebanon?
  • A. They are primarily motivated by financial gain and escaping extreme poverty.
  • B. They are mostly recruited from prisons and organized criminal syndicates.
  • C. They rarely have any formal political affiliations or ideological motives.
  • D. They are more likely to be well-educated and come from middle-class, affluent families.
Question 5 of 9
In Ian Horsley's banking algorithm designed to track potential terrorists, what is considered a 'negative indicator' (a characteristic a terrorist wouldn't normally display)?
  • A. Renting a house instead of owning one.
  • B. Investing in a life insurance policy.
  • C. Making frequent international wire transfers.
  • D. Being registered as a university student.
Question 6 of 9
How did economist John List prove that society is not as fundamentally altruistic as the original Dictator Game suggested?
  • A. He conducted the game in secret without the participants knowing they were being observed.
  • B. He adapted the game by requiring participants to complete menial tasks first and giving them the option to steal money.
  • C. He replaced the human participants with computer algorithms that optimized for maximum profit.
  • D. He only tested the game on corporate executives and business students.
Question 7 of 9
When analyzing car crash data in the 1950s, how did Robert Strange McNamara solve the problem of fatal head injuries?
  • A. He designed a softer, more impact-absorbent steering wheel.
  • B. He advocated for strict national speed limits to reduce collision force.
  • C. He championed the seat belt to protect the head from flying around during a crash.
  • D. He invented the first early version of the modern airbag.
Question 8 of 9
Which persistent myth about global warming is challenged by the data presented in the book?
  • A. Industrial pollution is decreasing naturally over time without intervention.
  • B. Deforestation has no measurable impact on the global climate.
  • C. Cars and industry are the main causes, whereas cows actually produce 50 percent more greenhouse gases than the transportation sector.
  • D. Ocean levels are rising purely due to natural geological cycles.
Question 9 of 9
What counterintuitive, cost-effective solution to global warming is proposed by researchers, inspired by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo?
  • A. Dropping massive ice blocks into the ocean to lower sea temperatures.
  • B. Pumping large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere to cool the planet.
  • C. Releasing controlled amounts of methane to break down existing atmospheric carbon.
  • D. Planting genetically modified, highly reflective trees across the equator.

SuperFreakonomics — Full Chapter Overview

SuperFreakonomics Summary & Overview

SuperFreakonomics (2009) explains why thinking like an economist can help us understand our modern world. These blinks illustrate key economic principles and the importance of collecting data with colorful stories from human history, and offers surprising solutions for the global problems that we face today.

Who Should Listen to SuperFreakonomics?

  • Anyone interested in entertaining, statistical facts about human behavior
  • Math buffs who believe in the power of statistics
  • Anyone curious about a very cheap way to stop global warming

About the Author: Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Steven D. Levitt is an American economist with degrees from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has specialized in researching crime and corruption. He currently teaches at the University of Chicago.

Stephen J. Dubner is an American writer and journalist who focuses on economic subjects. He is also the author of Choosing My Religion (previously known as Turbulent Souls) and Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper.

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