CHAPTER 6 FREAKANOMIC

CHAPTER 6

1. What do the experiences of Winner Lane, Loser Lane, and Temptress tell us about the likely relationship between a child’s name and his/her prospects for success in life? Are these examples sufficient for us to draw any definitive conclusions? Why or why not?
A: Loser Lane became a pillar in the community as a police sergeant while Winner Lane became a criminal. This shows that they didn't "live up to their name." While Temptress did live up to her name. In the case of these three people we can't draw definitive conclusions.

2. Explain what Roland G. Fryer was trying to get at when he decided to explore the following question: is distinctive black culture a cause of the economic disparity between blacks and whites or merely a reflection of it?
A: Roland G. Fryer was trying to find if a stereotypical black culture and the difference between that and the stereotyical white culture and economic status of those people during their life.

3. Why is the California birth certificate data set so valuable from the economist’s perspective? In particular, what type of data does it include that would be of interest to economists? Why are the variables you listed so useful/valuable?
A: Birth certificates show the name of not only the baby but the parents. It also shows the zip code which genernally shows the economic status of the family.

4. What do the California names data tell us about the similarity between the names black parents and white parents gave their children up until the early 1970s and in the period of time since then?
A:The uniqueness after the 1970s increased among black families and the names used in high economic status familes white and black moved down the economic ladder.
 
5. Summarize the degree of uniqueness of names given to black girls and black boys revealed in the California names data.What do the authors cite as the most likely cause of this phenomenon?
  A:After the 1970s the black-white gap grew possibly because of the Afro-American moment that had just occuried bringing more unique names among black families.

6. Summarize the characteristics of a black parent who is most likely to give his/her child a distinctively black name.
A: According to the book, the California data showed that the black parents of low economic status will give their children more unique names.

7. Explain how an “audit study” is used to determine whether having a very “white” name or a very “black” name matters.
A: Bias views of how a name sounds may determine and discernment how a person is treated without even seeing their face.