Freakonomics is the first book by economist Steven D. Levitt, co-authored with Stephen J. Dubner. It was published in 2005 by William Morrow. Stringing together numerous stories, anecdotes, and data analyses of unusual phenomena, Freakonomics encourages readers to apply the tools and concepts of economics to occurrences in everyday life and think more critically about the things that go on around them.
Important concepts in Freakonomics are the idea of incentives, which drive decision-making in the real world, information asymmetry, correlation versus causation, and parenting–notably the effect (or lack thereof) that parents' choices actually have on their children's life outcomes.
The book has sold over 4 million copies around the world, and has been widely used in microeconomics curriculums in schools everywhere. It was followed by a sequel, SuperFreakonomics. It was adapted into a documentary film in in 2010, and Dubner and Levitt have aired a biweekly Freakonomics Radio podcast on NPR since 2010, which continues today.
