John R. Lott Jr.

This was published in the wake of Freakonomics, which explains the dumbish title and the book's intent. The thesis is that (a) the free market offers better solutions to a whole range of problems and (b) the often forgotten/ignored fact about subsidizing bad behavior leads to bad things. The first and second chapter talks about businesses in the free market and reputations. The third chapter talks about the problems with government solutions and government interference in the markets. The fourth chapter speaks about crime and punishment (the death penalty and more guns works, gun control doesn't, and broken windows is inconclusive). The fifth chapter talks about voting rights and wrongs. These are bookended by an introduction and conclusion. Freakonomics and some of its theories are directly addressed several time, like Lott's demolition of the argument that the legalization of abortion in the 1970s led to the crime reduction of the 1990s. Et cetera. A quick, breezy read; footnoted; sparse tables and graphs. If you're inclined to agree with free market principles you'll like it, if you're inclined against the free market you will think it's hogwash. I thought Freakonomics was a whole lot of hogwash. Some good examples and personal stories, though the ones in Freakonomics are more engaging. Still, a good book, though now (2021) a bit dated in its 2000 to 2007 focus and issues. I had forgotten all about ACORN, for instance. Oh, the Bush years....… (meer)