From APM, American Public Media, and WNYC,

this is Frekenomics Radio on Marketplace.

Here's the host of Marketplace, Kyra's Dog.

It's time once again for a little bit of Frekenomics Radio.

Every couple of weeks we talk to Stephen Dubner,

the co-author of the books and the blog of the same name.

This time though, a special treat.

The other co-author, Stephen Levit.

Gentlemen, welcome to the broadcast.

Hey, guys.

Great to be here.

So Dubner, you are not in New York.

You have gone to the city of Big Shoulders Chicago with your co-read there, Mr. David.

Yeah, I've come out to Chicago to try to persuade Levit to run for president,

because I thought it'd be fun.

We have a guy from Chicago already, you know.

Well, I know, but you know, we've talked before on this show about how the president of the United States

doesn't really matter that much.

So I figure even if Levit stinks, it wouldn't be any great loss.

And unlike most economists, he'll admit that the president can't control or even predict the economy very well.

But there are some useful things he actually does know about, for instance, what causes a crime to rise and fall.

All right, Levit, do you tell?

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