In chapter 3 of Freakonomics, “Why do drug dealers still live with their moms?,” Levitt and Dubner discuss the idea of conventional wisdom. Galbraith, an economist, believes that “conventional wisdom must be simple, convenient, comfortable, and comforting--though not necessarily true” (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 86).
For example, an advocate for the homeless was quoted saying that over 3 million Americans were homeless, which would be 1 of every 100 people. This advocate later admitted that this stat was made up, because he did not want to not be able to answer the journalists looking for answers. His self-interest led him to lie (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 87).
Advertising is another way of spreading conventional wisdom. Listerine was originally created in the 19th century as a surgical antiseptic, but was not widely used until it was marketed in the ‘20s as a cure for bad breath (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 87).
Women’s Rights advocates normally claim that “one in three women American women will in her lifetime be a victim of rape or attempted rape” when the actual rate is closer to one in eight (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 88). However, …show more content…
The three officers under J.T. made only $7 an hour, and the foot soldiers made just $3.30. One also has to consider that for this little pay, gang members also “stand a greater chance of dying while dealing crack in a Chicago housing project than you do while sitting on death row in Texas” (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 102). Gang members do this because when they grow up crack dealing was “the best job they thought they had access to” (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 102). But like most every other “good” jobs, there were more people looking for work than there were jobs to be had; in this case, there were not enough street corners to sell crack (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p.
For example, an advocate for the homeless was quoted saying that over 3 million Americans were homeless, which would be 1 of every 100 people. This advocate later admitted that this stat was made up, because he did not want to not be able to answer the journalists looking for answers. His self-interest led him to lie (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 87).
Advertising is another way of spreading conventional wisdom. Listerine was originally created in the 19th century as a surgical antiseptic, but was not widely used until it was marketed in the ‘20s as a cure for bad breath (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 87).
Women’s Rights advocates normally claim that “one in three women American women will in her lifetime be a victim of rape or attempted rape” when the actual rate is closer to one in eight (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 88). However, …show more content…
The three officers under J.T. made only $7 an hour, and the foot soldiers made just $3.30. One also has to consider that for this little pay, gang members also “stand a greater chance of dying while dealing crack in a Chicago housing project than you do while sitting on death row in Texas” (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 102). Gang members do this because when they grow up crack dealing was “the best job they thought they had access to” (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p. 102). But like most every other “good” jobs, there were more people looking for work than there were jobs to be had; in this case, there were not enough street corners to sell crack (Levitt & Dubner, 2009, p.