Ideas worth spreading

The freakonomics of crack dealing

4,277,572 views | Steven Levitt • TED2004

"Freakonomics" author Steven Levitt presents new data on the finances of drug dealing. Contrary to popular myth, he says, being a street-corner crack dealer isn't lucrative: It pays below minimum wage. And your boss can kill you.

"Freakonomics" author Steven Levitt presents new data on the finances of drug dealing. Contrary to popular myth, he says, being a street-corner crack dealer isn't lucrative: It pays below minimum wage. And your boss can kill you.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Steven Levitt

See speaker profile

Steven Levitt's eye-opening Freakonomics took economic theory into the real world of suburban parenting and urban drug gangs, turning conventional wisdom upside-down.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.