Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain
John R. Lott’s review of the latest Freakonomics book by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. Lott seems to have an ongoing personal quarrel with Levitt and Dubner. However, his critiques of their arguments seem reasonable. His review is worth reading.
I don’t know. The used car thing goes back to a paper by George Akerlof, http://wikisum.com/w/Akerlof:_The_market_for_lemons, which is by now pretty standard. I studied this paper in Graduate school micro theory, for example. That paper contained thoughts on corrections for the theoretical problem (asymmetric information) some of which have taken hold since then. I don’t necessarily endorse Freakonomics but it’s probably pretty harmless.
I don’t know either. Lott argues that transferable warranties effectively address this problem. His counterargument on abortion and crime seems strong. Even if some of his arguments are wrong, his knowledgeable criticisms of Freakonomics arguments are better than the credulous responses of other reviewers.
Another view which agrees with you: check the comments particularly.
http://www.newmarksdoor.com/mainblog/2014/07/part-of-a-review-of-levitt-and-dubners-think-like-a-freak.html
Thanks for the link.