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	Podcast:		Freakonomics Radio
	Episode:		An Economics Lesson from a Talking Pencil (Update)
	Category:		Society & Culture
	Duration:		00:39:45
	Publish Date:		2025-06-11 00:00:00
	Description:		A famous essay argues that “not a single person on the face of this earth” knows how to make a pencil. How true is that? In this 2016 episode, we looked at what pencil-making can teach us about global manufacturing — and the proper role of government in the economy. SOURCES: Caroline Weaver, creator of the Locavore Guide. Matt Ridley, science writer, British viscount and retired member of the House of Lords Tim Harford, economist, author and columnist for the Financial Times Jim Weissenborn, former CEO of General Pencil Company Thomas Thwaites, freelance designer and associate lecturer at Central Saint Martins. RESOURCES: "When ideas have sex," by Matt Ridley (TED, 2010). "How I built a toaster — from scratch," by Thomas Thwaites (TED, 2010). "Look on this toaster, ye mighty, and despair!" by Tim Harford (Financial Times, 2009). "I, Pencil," by Leonard Read (Foundation for Economic Education, 1958). EXTRAS: “Fault-Finder Is a Minimum-Wage Job,” by Freakonomics Radio (2025).
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