What kind of questions do you think we're going to get here? You think they're going to be like life advice, stock advice, or more like, you know,

boxers or briefskin questions?

Um...

Freak-wintly asked questions from Freakonomics Radio.

Here's your host, Stephen Duffner.

So, you know, I'm just a writer and a radio host, but my Freakonomics friend and co-author Steve Levitt, he's a genuine PhD holding research economist at the University of Chicago.

So once in a while, I like to drag him in front of my microphone to field some questions from you, our listeners, and from readers of the Freakonomics blog.

We call it Freak-wintly asked questions.

In our previous installment, Levitt talked about, among other things, the value of voting.

The economist take?

Voting just isn't a rational way to spend your time and energy.

Not surprisingly, quite a few of you objected pretty strenuously to Levitt's message.

I'm guessing today's program will upset just as many of you, if not more.

If I had to predict which answer is most likely to set you off, predicting the future, by the way, is impossible, but we human beings can't help ourselves.

That's actually the theme of an upcoming radio hour we're making now.

But anyway, if I had to predict which answer from today's episode is most provocative, I'd say it's when Levitt assesses the recent healthcare reform bill.

He also talks about whether college education is as valuable as it's made out to be, and does increased policing in Brazilian slums actually help stop growth.

We sat down together in my office a couple of weeks ago.

Levitt, how do you feel about this prospect today?

Never been more ready.

I like the confidence. Confidence bordering on cocky.

You know me.

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