Summary of Freakonomics

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything is a 2005 non-fiction book by University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and New York Times journalist Stephen J. Dubner. Drawing on examples from popular culture, history, and economics, Levitt and Dubner argue that economics is, at root, the study of incentives—how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. The book also tries to explore the hidden side of everything, by applying economic theory to topics like cheating, crime, parenting, and sports. Freakonomics has been widely praised for its ability to present complex economic topics in an accessible way.