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Did leaded gasoline cause a huge spike in crime?
The Lead-Crime Hypothesis—that the toxic effects of leaded gasoline explain big spikes in crime—offers convincing evidence and helps explain why violent…
Sep 26
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Brian Klaas
105
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Did leaded gasoline cause a huge spike in crime?
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Why Accountability Matters for Trump
The prosecutions of Trump will reshape the culture of the Republican Party and the future of American democracy. To understand why, we need to take a…
Sep 19
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Brian Klaas
52
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Why Accountability Matters for Trump
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How tall was Jesus? Or, measurement and the making of the modern world.
The mensura Christi provides insights into the making of modern measurement—and how the history of metrology created our modern world, subdivided into…
Sep 12
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Brian Klaas
90
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How tall was Jesus? Or, measurement and the making of the modern world.
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My "Life in the UK" Test and a Great British Travel Guide
I passed my "Life in the UK" test and will soon (hopefully) become a dual citizen of the US and UK. I reflect on 12 years in Britain and offer some less…
Sep 8
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Brian Klaas
186
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My "Life in the UK" Test and a Great British Travel Guide
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Gerrymander to Save American Democracy
Yes, I know it sounds crazy. But a specific type of gerrymandering—to boost competition—is the best hope for saving a broken system that's lurching…
Sep 5
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Brian Klaas
83
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Gerrymander to Save American Democracy
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August 2023
Signalling Theory, Twitter, and the Fake Blue Tick
Twitter—ahem "X"—is a perfect illustration of signalling theory, as Elon Musk has taken a useful honest signal and turned it into a dangerous, dishonest…
Aug 29
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Brian Klaas
146
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Signalling Theory, Twitter, and the Fake Blue Tick
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6
Prigozhin is dead. But Putin is now weaker.
Russia's dictator may have eliminated one threat to his power, but he just created fresh ones. And the cracks in his regime are starting to show.
Aug 24
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Brian Klaas
142
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Prigozhin is dead. But Putin is now weaker.
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The Ten Days that Didn't Exist
There are ten days that don't exist in history. Understanding why leads to a fascinating look at the nature of time—and how humans subdivide their…
Aug 22
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Brian Klaas
115
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The Ten Days that Didn't Exist
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7
How Dictators Lie about Economic Growth
A new study uses a novel technique to measure economic activity—in a way that can't be manipulated by autocrats. And it turns out despots have been…
Aug 18
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Brian Klaas
41
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How Dictators Lie about Economic Growth
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10
The yogurt kingpin, the radio DJ coup, and the most interesting island on Earth
Madagascar is a fascinating island home to 30 million people. It's also home to bizarre, volatile politics that virtually nobody knows about. Now, you…
Aug 16
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Brian Klaas
104
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The yogurt kingpin, the radio DJ coup, and the most interesting island on Earth
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Experiment with Everything
One man randomized his life. He teaches us why we need much more trial-and-error experimentation—in our lives and in public policy. Here's how it might…
Aug 8
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Brian Klaas
107
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Experiment with Everything
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The Day Four Million Children Disappeared
A peculiar episode from 1987 teaches us crucial lessons about incentives in the public sector, the overwhelming impulse for humans to be honest, and the…
Aug 4
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Brian Klaas
47
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The Day Four Million Children Disappeared
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