125. It’s Crowded at the Top

One possibility: a leading hypothesis pursued by researchers (and funders) was built on science that now appears to be fraudulent. Stephen Dubner speaks with the scientist and the journalist who blew the whistle. SOURCES: Charles Piller, investigative journalist for Science, auth ...  Show more

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 Hia ...  Show more

Japan was once on track to become the world’s largest economy, but after decades of stagnation, that future never came. From the post-war boom to the Plaza Accord, risk-averse business culture, and an aging population, Japan's rise and plateau have fascinated economists for years ...  Show more

On today’s show we are taking a look at the Macro economy. The bureau of Labor and Statistics published the latest CPI data which came in a bit hotter than expected. This is implying that the Fed will need to keep interest rates higher for longer to combat inflation. The Fed k ...

How are people feeling about the economy after the dramatic drop in stocks? They’re “Googling the word ‘recession’ like crazy,” an economics professor told us. On the show today: Why perception is so important in economics. Also: The not-so-bad reasons for the higher unemployment ...  Show more

In 2006, Spain's economy was booming, experiencing unparalleled growth since the turn of the millennium. With per capita output more than doubling in just six years, some economists predicted that Spain could surpass Germany in per capita income within five years, positioning its ...  Show more