Freakonomics Radio Archives - Show-Me Institute

They’re Talking About Occupational Licensing At Freakonomics

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:44:58 +0000

A contributor to the Freakonomics blog is talking about the effects of licensing on the barber and cosmetology fields in Texas, which falls right in line with what we discussed the other day, and have written about extensively.

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Traffic Studies and the New I-64

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:35:38 +0000

Freakonomics has some links to interesting studies of traffic congestion. The studies indicate that, paradoxically, sometimes a reduction in road options may decrease congestion. I think many St. Louisans would have thought this idea to be insane before the 2008 closing of I-64, when everybody saw the amazing lack of traffic problems that resulted. Now, granted, 2009 has not been quite as easy for traffic in St. Louis as it was the previous year, but it is still far better than anyone could have predicted.

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Freedom by Any Other Name

Thu, 07 May 2009 22:49:51 +0000

As we all know, spring is a time of new life and beginnings. Ritenour students are celebrating the birth of new chickens. Dave Stokes and his family are celebrating the birth of their son. (I’m not saying those are totally comparable circumstances, just that they’re both examples of new life!)

Have you ever sat back and thought about the amazing freedom we have in this country to name someone who’s just been born? I hadn’t until I read this post on Freakonomics. Germany forbids extra-long surnames because German bureaucrats don’t like them. Those same bureaucrats approve the first names of new babies, too, and ensure that names are gender-appropriate.

The Freakonomics post lists a few other countries that regulate children’s names. I’m glad that the United States isn’t one of them. This is one of those quiet freedoms that don’t get a lot of press coverage, but that make up a part of human initiative and self-determination. Kind of like the freedom to enter your tractor in a parade.

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The More You Learn …

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:47:03 +0000

Remember when I mentioned that everyone could probably benefit from learning more about retirement saving? Well, in a Wall Street Journal article with something of a Missouri focus, I learned that Edward Jones still employs financial Fuller Brush Men who discuss investment options with anyone who doesn’t slam the door in their faces. Their goal is to earn your trust and manage your investments — but, either way, you get some investment education out of the deal.

Speaking of educating oneself: traffic is much maligned, but also little understood. Proposed solutions to traffic problems are often unpopular, but worth considering (given the high cost that traffic exacts on society at large). There a couple of great guest posts on the Freakonomics blog dealing with the subject of traffic. I highly recommend them to everyone. And, if you’ve not had enough exposure to traffic policy information after reading those, this article is sorta long, but fantastic.

And, of course, let us not forget the Show-Me Institute’s own transportation studies.

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The Rich Get Richer Share of the Tax Burden

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:23:38 +0000

Thanks to our former intern Calvin Harris for pointing out this great Freakonomics blog post. Excluding federal taxes, the income tax base here in Missouri is a great deal flatter, unless you happen to live in St. Louis or Kansas City. Thankfully, there are currently some exciting tax breaks for working Missourians on the horizon that you may want to track with Policy Pulse.

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MetroLink, the Riverfront Times, and Freakonomics, Together at Last

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:11:06 +0000

The much-discussed Riverfront Times article about MetroLink from a few months ago is being discussed at the Freakonomics blog. If you are visiting our site, then I am pretty sure you’d also be familiar with their site, book, and phenomenon — so I don’t need to expand. But be sure to check out the discussion, especially in light of the upcoming votes on light rail in St. Louis and Kansas City.

As an addendum, a video is being passed around about Kansas City’s light-rail proposal. In the interest of fairness, if anyone sends us something similar, but in favor of the proposal. we’ll link to that, too.

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