Freedomnomics - Lott

leebase · 01-27-2011, 04:12 PM

Freedomnomics: Why the Free Market Works and Other Half-Baked Theories Don't by John R. Lott Jr.

A nice book that explains how the free market comes up with answers to problems.

Consider radio. No one knew quite what to do with it. How can someone make a business out of using radio when anyone could get the signal without paying. The answer was commercials, something that's obvious to us now, but took time for the market to figure out.

The book goes into a fair number of every day issues making the market forces/reputation/incentives and the like far more interesting than most will have remembered econ class ever being.

The author also refutes quite a few ideas put forth in the book "Freakonomics" -- like legalized abortion in the 70's causing the drop in crime in the 90's.

I listened to the book via audible.com and enjoyed the production.

And yes, this book stirred some ideas in my head that formed some recent new forum discussions.

Lee

queentess · 01-28-2011, 01:19 PM

Thanks, this'll be a good one for my husband. He loves pop-econ books.

GA Russell · 01-28-2011, 07:20 PM

Isn't John Lott the guy who showed statistically that the more guns there are in a given population, the lower the crime rate?

mrsquash · 01-28-2011, 08:28 PM

Yeah, his book was titled "More Guns, Less Crime". His thesis was that the crime rate dropped when law-abiding citizens had easier access to guns, such as being allowed to carry a concealed handgun. He did a lot of statistical research and analysis to support his point.

I've never read the book but I remember listening to, and reading, a few interviews with him around the time the book came out (as a concealed-carry license holder, I had some interest in the matter). He's a very bright guy.

And it goes without saying to be careful when carrying your gun. If it's in the same bag as your reader, the barrel could damage your screen

Keryl Raist · 02-02-2011, 12:57 PM

I just put it on my wishlist, where it'll probably stay until someone decides to make a present out of it. 14.95 for an electronic copy is way too much.

01-27-2011, 04:12 PM	#1
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	Freedomnomics - Lott Freedomnomics: Why the Free Market Works and Other Half-Baked Theories Don't by John R. Lott Jr. A nice book that explains how the free market comes up with answers to problems. Consider radio. No one knew quite what to do with it. How can someone make a business out of using radio when anyone could get the signal without paying. The answer was commercials, something that's obvious to us now, but took time for the market to figure out. The book goes into a fair number of every day issues making the market forces/reputation/incentives and the like far more interesting than most will have remembered econ class ever being. The author also refutes quite a few ideas put forth in the book "Freakonomics" -- like legalized abortion in the 70's causing the drop in crime in the 90's. I listened to the book via audible.com and enjoyed the production. And yes, this book stirred some ideas in my head that formed some recent new forum discussions. Lee

01-28-2011, 01:19 PM	#2
queentess Reading is sexy Posts: 1,303 Karma: 544517 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	Thanks, this'll be a good one for my husband. He loves pop-econ books.

01-28-2011, 07:20 PM	#3
GA Russell Argos win Grey Cup! Posts: 7,676 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Isn't John Lott the guy who showed statistically that the more guns there are in a given population, the lower the crime rate?

01-28-2011, 08:28 PM	#4
mrsquash Connoisseur Posts: 78 Karma: 648 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Device: K4-NT, Sony T1	Yeah, his book was titled "More Guns, Less Crime". His thesis was that the crime rate dropped when law-abiding citizens had easier access to guns, such as being allowed to carry a concealed handgun. He did a lot of statistical research and analysis to support his point. I've never read the book but I remember listening to, and reading, a few interviews with him around the time the book came out (as a concealed-carry license holder, I had some interest in the matter). He's a very bright guy. And it goes without saying to be careful when carrying your gun. If it's in the same bag as your reader, the barrel could damage your screen

02-02-2011, 12:57 PM	#5
Keryl Raist Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 379182 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Device: Kindle for PC	I just put it on my wishlist, where it'll probably stay until someone decides to make a present out of it. 14.95 for an electronic copy is way too much.

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