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Freakonomics, M.D.

Each week, physician and economist Dr. Bapu Jena will dig into a fascinating study at the intersection of economics and healthcare. He takes on questions like: Why do kids with summer birthdays get the flu more often? Can surviving a hurricane help you live longer? What do heart surgery and grocery-store pricing have in common?

Episodes

78. Do Kids Cause Divorce?

Couples get divorced for all kinds of reasons. Is having kids one of them? Bapu talks about research that investigates what happens to parents who unexpectedly have twins. Plus, an announcement about the future of the show.

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18 min•

24 Mar 23

77. They Make Minimum Wage. They Could Save Your Life.

Doctors and nurses get most of the attention — but a new study suggests we can improve health care by raising wages for a group of workers who are often overlooked.

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17 min•

17 Mar 23

76. Is a Spoonful of Sunlight the Best Medicine?

In hospitals, a softer pillow or a nicer room might be more than just amenities — they could improve outcomes for patients.

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19 min•

10 Mar 23

75. What Is Sugar Really Doing to You?

Americans eat a lot of sugar — and it’s hard to determine how it affects our health. Bapu explains how a new study uses data from the 1950s to help solve the mystery.

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16 min•

3 Mar 23

74. How Does Playing Football Affect Your Health?

It’s not a new question, but it’s a tricky one to study. Bapu explains why, and talks about how an N.F.L. labor dispute helped him get some answers.

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29 min•

17 Feb 23

73. Who Pays for Multimillion-Dollar Miracle Cures?

The most expensive drugs in the world are treatments for genetic diseases. And more of these cures are on the horizon. How will anyone be able to afford them?

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Freakonomics, M.D.

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78. Do Kids Cause Divorce?

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77. They Make Minimum Wage. They Could Save Your Life.

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76. Is a Spoonful of Sunlight the Best Medicine?

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75. What Is Sugar Really Doing to You?

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74. How Does Playing Football Affect Your Health?

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73. Who Pays for Multimillion-Dollar Miracle Cures?

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