221. How Did the Belt Win?

Freakonomics Radio

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4.6 • 32K Ratings

🗓️ 24 September 2015

⏱️ 31 minutes

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Summary

Suspenders may work better, but the dork factor is too high. How did an organ-squeezing belly tourniquet become part of our everyday wardrobe -- and what other suboptimal solutions do we routinely put up with?

Transcript

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0:00.0	You ever notice something that is so commonly used that it's practically ubiquitous, even
0:12.1	though it doesn't work all that well?
0:15.0	We get used to things, but does that mean they really make sense?
0:18.8	I'm sure some examples come to your mind, maybe some medical practice, maybe a political
0:23.9	practice, maybe even something where the stakes are really high, like belts?
0:35.6	So Levitt, list for me if you would, all the accessories and items of let's say jewelry
0:42.6	that you wear in a given day.
0:44.9	You include a belt?
0:46.4	Sure, that's included belt.
0:48.7	Okay, a belt.
0:51.5	Yeah, I've never worn a watch.
0:54.8	I've never worn jewelry.
0:56.3	I don't...
0:57.3	No, for a bot?
0:58.8	No.
0:59.8	You ever wear a pocket square?
1:03.0	I've never worn in my life.
1:04.6	I don't think I've ever had a pocket square, and I certainly have never worn a pocket watch.
1:09.6	Cuff links?
1:12.1	Only when forced to on tuxedo days.
1:15.6	And so for someone who wears no Sartorial accessories, why the belt?
1:22.5	Boy, you've left me speechless.
	...

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