In the first Frekenomics book that Steve Levit and I wrote, there was one chapter called

What Makes a Perfect Parent.

We put forward a collage of data suggesting that much of what modern parents do or are

encouraged to do probably doesn't matter all that much.

Especially when it comes to what you might call obsessive parenting, trying to maximize

your child's potential with an abundance of culture cramming and extracurricular activities,

there might be a strong correlation between obsessive parents and successful kids, but it's

not necessarily a causal relationship.

In other words, the kind of parent most likely to parent obsessively was also likely to

have bestowed upon their kids some even more powerful tools.

A high IQ, for instance, or a strong work ethic.

A few years after that first Frekenomics book, right when I started this podcast, we did

an episode called The Economist's Guide to Parenting.

We interviewed a variety of economist parents to see how they approached the task.

The results were predictably nerdy from the very beginning of parenthood.

We approached getting pregnant like any other project we've done.

To preparing their kids for the real world.

The Matilda was leaving the house the other day at 7 a.m. I said Matilda, this is your

first day of human capital accumulation.

You can finish when you're 27.

We also heard some hardcore self-reflection.

I do sometimes think what if my kids don't turn out well and then everyone blames me,

...