670. Beeconomics 101 Image

670. Beeconomics 101

10 April - 55 mins
Podcast Series Freakonomics Radio

How do beekeepers make a living? Why is there so much honey fraud? And why did billions of bees suddenly disappear? To find out, guest host Steve Levitt activates his hive mind.

 

SOURCES:

Alex Sapoznik, historian, reader in late medieval history at King’s College London.

Chris Hiatt, past president of the American Honey Producers Association, owner of Hiatt Honey Company.

Michael Roberts, founding executive director of the Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy at U.C.L.A. Law School.

Walter "Wally" Thurman, professor emeritus of agricultural economics at North Carolina State University.

 

RESOURCES:

"U.S. honey is increasingly supplied through imports,...

55 mins

Series Episodes

Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System (Update)

Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System (Update)

Nearly everything that politicians say about taxes is at least half a lie. They are also dishonest when it comes to the national debt. In this update of an episode from 2025, Stephen Dubner finds one of the few people in Washington who is willing to tell the truth — and it’s even worse than you think.

1 hour 4 mins

8 April Finished

669. Why Is 95 Percent of the World’s Bourbon Made in Kentucky?

669. Why Is 95 Percent of the World’s Bourbon Made in Kentucky?

Is it tradition … or protectionism? And what happens when the bourbon boom turns into a glut?

46 mins

3 April Finished

668. Do Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny Have Blood on Their Hands?

668. Do Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny Have Blood on Their Hands?

As one researcher told us: “We’ve engineered a world where the most distracting device ever made is also the one we use to listen to music in the car." A new study tries to measure the cost.

53 mins

27 March Finished

In a Driverless World, Who Loses and Who Wins?

In a Driverless World, Who Loses and Who Wins?

In blue cities across the country, unions and politicians want to ban self-driving cars. In this episode from the Search Engine podcast, PJ Vogt visits Boston to sort the facts from the propaganda. (Part two of a two-part series.)

1 hour 5 mins

25 March Finished

Are Human Drivers Finally Obsolete?

Are Human Drivers Finally Obsolete?

How a secret project at Google led to driverless cars on American roads. Freakonomics Radio shares a story from our friends at Search Engine. (Part one of a two-part series.)

1 hour 11 mins

20 March Finished

Recommended

Show name

Title

Sub title

Now Playing

The Pat Kenny Show

Live Now: 9AM - 12PM

Presenter logo
Brand

9AM

12AM

Now Playing

The Pat Kenny Show

The Pat Kenny Show

Of The Ball

1 hour left

Today Finished


Next Up

Default

Default

default

0 mins

No Account

Subscriptions to podcast series are only available to users with an account. Sign in or register to subscribe and access your subscriptions.

Register Sign in

Woops!

Error text.