Freakonomics Radio

Even American parents have a strong "son preference" -- which means that a newborn daughter can be bad news for a marriage.

You know the saying: a winner never quits and a quitter never wins. To which Freakonomics Radio says ... Are you sure?

The Encyclopedia of Ethical Failures catalogs the fiscal, sexual, and mental lapses of federal workers -- all with an eye toward preventing the next big mistake.

Is junk food an abomination or a modern miracle?

What does "Pride and Prejudice" have to do with nuclear deterrence?

What happens to your reputation when you're no longer around to defend it?

You might think that someone with a 50-50 chance of getting a fatal disease would want to know for sure -- but you would be wrong. What does this say about our supposed thirst for certainty?

Yet another reason to blame your parents for pretty much everything.

It's awkward, random, confusing -- and probably discriminatory too.

A glimpse into our driverless future.

Dubner and Levitt talk about circadian rhythms, gay marriage, autism, and whether "pay what you want" is everything it's cracked up to be.

If any other product failed 94 percent of the time, you'd probably stop using it. So why do we put up with burglar alarms?

A look at whether spite pays — and if it even exists.

Why is unemployment still so high? It may be because of something that happened well before the Great Recession.

An interview with Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, whose younger brother turned him in -- and what it says about the Boston bombers.

In many states, it is perfectly legal to not hire someone who smokes. Should employers also be able to weed out junk-food lovers or motorcyclists -- or anyone who wants to have a baby?

A kid's name can tell us something about his parents -- their race, social standing, even their politics. But is your name really your destiny?

Real tax reform may or may not ever happen. In the meantime, how about making the current system work a bit better?

Freakonomics asks a dozen smart people for their best ideas. Get ready for a fat tax, a sugar ban, and a calorie-chomping tapeworm.

The NCAA basketball tournament grabs a lot of eyeballs, but turning them into dollars hasn't always been easy -- even when the "talent" is playing for free.