David Friedman’s Substack

David Friedman's Substack explores a wide range of subjects from economic principles and climate change to intellectual debates and law enforcement, emphasizing critical thinking, skepticism towards mainstream narratives, and the interplay of natural and social sciences in understanding human behavior and societal issues.

Critical Thinking and Truth Seeking Political and Economic Theories Science and Climate Change Legal and Ethical Considerations Societal and Cultural Analysis Philosophy and Morality Education and Learning Methods Technology and Society

The hottest Substack posts of David Friedman’s Substack

And their main takeaways

Getting Tax Burden Wrong

152 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation Economics Government
  1. Who bears the burden of a tax depends on the effect of the tax on the transaction terms, not just who hands over the money.
  2. Excess burden of taxes includes costs incurred by individuals that nobody receives, even if the government doesn't collect the tax.
  3. Smith's view on taxation aims for incidence of tax burden proportional to income, not necessarily flat rate income tax.

Technology Enabled Scams

125 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Scams Ransomware
  1. Technology has enabled a variety of scams, like mass production blackmail and forged evidence threats, taking advantage of a large number of people at a low cost.
  2. Legal and computer service scams are becoming more prevalent, with scammers using tactics like phone calls offering legal help after accidents or fake tech support from companies like Microsoft.
  3. Advanced technology like deepfake videos and ransomware pose serious risks, as seen in cases where fraudsters used deepfake technology to trick workers into transferring large sums of money or when victims are extorted for payments to decrypt their files.

Sustainability

278 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Sustainability Policy Consequences
  1. Sustainability may not be a practical goal if it means continuing our present activities indefinitely.
  2. Defining sustainability based on future needs is challenging due to uncertainties and differing interpretations.
  3. The concept of sustainability can be manipulated to support any policy, which hinders meaningful discussions about future generations.

Two Stories

161 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Scandal Political Figures Corruption Conviction
  1. The story outlines a tragic account of Joseph Biden and his son's involvement in illegal activities.
  2. Irresponsibility and incompetence led to a series of damaging actions that affected Joseph Biden's political career.
  3. The father's love for his son conflicted with his public promises and political obligations.

Race, Gender and IQ

323 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🔬 Science Race IQ Gender Environment Genetics
  1. Publicly discussing racial and gender differences in IQ can lead to accusations of prejudice, as seen in the cases of James Watson and Lawrence Summers.
  2. Evidence suggests that the genetic IQ of Africans is comparable to that of whites, challenging previous assumptions of lower intelligence.
  3. Nurture may play a smaller role than nature in influencing outcomes, as seen in a study of Korean-American children placed for adoption.
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Climate and the Media I

260 implied HN points • 05 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Media bias
  1. Many people form their beliefs about climate change based on second-hand sources like news stories and blogs.
  2. The media tends to exaggerate the severity of climate change, leading to misconceptions about the actual scientific findings.
  3. The IPCC reports provide a more balanced and nuanced view of climate change impacts compared to how they are portrayed in the media.

Solutions to Mortality

188 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mortality Aging Consciousness Immortality
  1. There are possible ways to potentially avoid mortality, but they are not very likely.
  2. Cryonic suspension offers an option to potentially be revived in the future, but it involves many uncertainties.
  3. The concept of uploading consciousness raises interesting questions about identity and the nature of existence.

Playing Safe

188 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Diet Prevention Cryonics Climate change Health Risks
  1. Playing it safe is not always the best option in an uncertain world.
  2. Be cautious with food and health choices, as what was once considered safe may turn out to be harmful.
  3. Slowing climate change may have unintended consequences, so consider the potential drawbacks before taking action.

Gift Economies

161 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Economics Society Fiction History Intellectual Property
  1. Gift economies are systems of exchange based on reciprocity and social obligation without explicit contracts.
  2. Gift economies can take various forms, like providing services without monetary compensation but receiving status or recognition as a reward.
  3. In gift economies, transactions are based on gifts rather than explicit trades, creating a different dynamic of value exchange.

Economics and Evolutionary Psychology

143 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🔬 Science Psychology Evolution Behavior Economics Biology
  1. Economics predicts individual behavior based on personal goals, while evolutionary psychology focuses on genes' goals for reproductive success.
  2. Evolutionary psychology sees the human mind as specialized modules shaped by Darwinian evolution for survival in hunter-gatherer environments.
  3. Behavioral inconsistencies in economics can be explained by beliefs in 'just prices' influenced by evolutionary psychology and ancestral trading practices.

Enforcing the Constitution

179 implied HN points • 16 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Constitution Supreme Court Enforcement Political division Legal system
  1. Enforcing the Constitution can be challenging, as seen in historical and recent examples of government defiance of Supreme Court rulings.
  2. Penalizing governments and officials for violating the Constitution may not always be straightforward or effective due to legal limitations like sovereign and qualified immunity.
  3. Alternative solutions to enforcing unconstitutional laws include court injunctions and government agents refusing enforcement, but may face challenges in an increasingly polarized political landscape.

Torture

129 HN points • 14 Dec 23
  1. In the past, legal systems used ordeals and confession through torture to ensure guilt beyond doubt.
  2. Over time, legal systems have evolved to rely on plea bargains as a less costly alternative to lengthy trials.
  3. The use of torture in legal systems was not only for extracting information but may also have served as a method of punishment without conviction.

Bogus Quotes

170 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Quotes History
  1. Many quotes on the internet are bogus, misattributed to famous figures
  2. It's important to fact-check quotes before sharing them as authentic
  3. Some popular quotes are mistakenly attributed to historical figures, and it's crucial to verify sources

Anarchy vs Minarchy: Two One-Sided Exchanges

143 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
  1. Anarchist institutions might not generate libertarian laws in a non-libertarian society.
  2. Market for law in an anarcho-capitalist society can lead to economically efficient law.
  3. Societies without state law enforcement have existed and worked well in some historical contexts.

Orwell on Kipling

152 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
📚 Literature Criticism Poetry Essay Novel
  1. Orwell viewed Rudyard Kipling as a talented writer, despite being despised by many in his time.
  2. Orwell criticized Kipling's realism as 'sadism,' but believed Kipling's writing reflected a different perspective on handling life's unfairness.
  3. Orwell underestimated Kipling's skill as a poet and short story writer, failing to recognize the depth of his work beyond popular pieces.

Feud Law

179 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
💾 History Conflict resolution
  1. Feud law relies on the threat of harm for enforcing rights and compensation.
  2. Commitment strategies like vengefulness and reputation are crucial in making feud systems work.
  3. Successful feud systems must protect both the strong and the weak, and provide mechanisms for terminating conflicts.

Temperature, Mortality and Climate Change

125 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
  1. Mortality from cold is much larger than from heat, and not mainly due to extreme temperatures.
  2. Warming due to climate change will have varying effects on mortality based on geographical location, emission scenarios, and adaptation.
  3. Studying the effect of temperature on mortality should consider factors like adaptation, technological advancements, and income levels.

Rothbard on Smith

134 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🚌 Education History Economics Policy Government Philosophy
  1. Adam Smith did not support progressive income taxation and was actually against most income taxes.
  2. Smith was a free trader who saw taxes on exports as a means to raise funds, not as a trade policy objective.
  3. Smith did not advocate for government-run education to enforce obedience; he actually discussed leaving education in private hands.

Explaining Things

116 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
  1. Observing behavior that doesn't align with traditional economic models can lead to exploring alternative explanations.
  2. People may make seemingly contradictory choices, like buying both insurance and lottery tickets, which can challenge standard economic theories.
  3. Offering testable explanations for observed behavior, even if they involve dropping the assumption of rationality, can lead to deeper understanding.

A Climate Science Textbook

251 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🔬 Science Climate Effects Consensus Consequences
  1. The book highlights the uncertainty and differing opinions around the net effects of climate change.
  2. An example of potential error in climate science education is presented through conflicting claims of heat-related mortality.
  3. The importance of considering both positive and negative impacts of climate change is emphasized, pointing out potential misconceptions from only focusing on negative effects.

Games as Training

143 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🚌 Education Learning Skills Games Teaching Programming
  1. Games like bridge, chess, and Diplomacy can be viewed as training exercises for skills like coordination, tactics, strategy, and commitment.
  2. Playing games can help develop real-world skills like finding your way around environments and accomplishing goals.
  3. Some games are designed specifically to teach skills, such as computer programming or the principles of mutual advantage over conquest.

Why Subcultures Die

134 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Subcultures Atheism Communities Generations Organizations
  1. Subcultures age, decline, and die because of difficulties in attracting and retaining young members.
  2. Introducing new elements can rejuvenate a subculture and attract new members.
  3. Organizations that limit membership age ranges can maintain vitality over time by evolving with changing ideologies and issues.

Technology and Courtship

107 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
  1. Technological advancements have greatly impacted courtship through contraception and paternity testing.
  2. Different social rules around courtship, like traditional and modern approaches, have their own advantages and disadvantages.
  3. The emotional and physical aspects of courtship, including sex and bonding, play a significant role in shaping relationship dynamics.

Concerning Covid

125 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
  1. Vaccines provide strong protection against death or hospitalization, but less protection against infection.
  2. Herd immunity can occur sooner if vulnerability is not equal across the population.
  3. The concept of herd immunity was based on static models and didn't fully apply to the evolving situation with COVID-19.

Temperature, Income and Mortality

89 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
  1. Adaptation to temperature changes needs to be considered in mortality estimations.
  2. Mortality due to temperature is expected to decrease with income.
  3. Estimating years of life lost due to temperature-related deaths is complex and involves considering various factors.

Adam Smith on the Ukraine War

134 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
  1. Adam Smith discusses the differences between militia and professional armies.
  2. For a civilized nation, a standing army is essential for defense.
  3. The Second Amendment in the US Constitution was influenced by the British approach to military and political power.

Concerning Baths and Showers

116 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
  1. Different shower designs have trade-offs like convenience vs. speed of temperature adjustment.
  2. Human sensory system adjusts to water temperature, affecting comfort in bathtubs.
  3. There is a market for a computer entertainment system designed for use during baths.

One solution to the Gift Economy Puzzle

89 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
  1. Gift exchange can be a solution for transactions where pricing is difficult.
  2. Trust is essential for gift exchange to work effectively.
  3. Gift exchange can potentially reduce transaction costs and impact the size of firms in industries.

Post Script

80 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
  1. Abolishing plea bargaining would lead to significantly more trials.
  2. Shortening trials could be an option without increasing error rates.
  3. Legalizing victimless crimes may reduce the number of cases in the legal system.

Plumbing

71 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
  1. Plumbing projects in old houses can be complex and damaging to the house's structure.
  2. City permits and inspections for plumbing work raise questions of cost and enforcement.
  3. Designing houses with accessible plumbing can make future projects easier and less invasive.

Primary Tactics

62 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
  1. In primary elections, candidates with similar voter pools should consider collaborating or using weighted odds to increase their chances of winning.
  2. Candidates can strategically shift their political positions to appeal to different pools of voters, especially as they move closer to the center in anticipation of the general election.
  3. Participating in elections can benefit candidates even if they don't win, as it provides publicity, name recognition, and potential opportunities, such as being selected as a running mate.

Why Do We Give Gifts?

53 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
  1. Economists find gift-giving puzzling as they expect money gifts to make more sense.
  2. Gift-giving can be a way to show altruism and signal care for the recipient's preferences.
  3. Tipping may exist not just for rewarding service, but also for the personal satisfaction of generosity and honesty.

Anyone Want Talks in April?

35 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
  1. David Friedman plans to speak at LibertyCon in Tbilisi, Georgia around April 20th.
  2. He expects to make it part of a two week speaking trip in Europe, with one end possibly in London.
  3. His requirement for a talk is expenses covered plus an interested audience.

Factchecking Revised

17 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
  1. The post discusses an example of biased fact-checking.
  2. The author corrected their earlier confusion between PunditFact and PolitiFact.
  3. The post has been revised to reflect these corrections.

The Web of Story

8 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
📚 Literature Character development Narrative structure
  1. Discovering and enjoying stories on Glowfic involves finding favorite authors and completed threads.
  2. The stories on Glowfic present different versions of the same plotline, showcasing characters in varying roles and circumstances.
  3. Glowfic narratives offer a unique web of interconnected stories, created collaboratively by multiple authors inspired by role-playing games.