Controversial author explains economics as study of incentives

One of his more controversial theories is that abortion causes a drop in crime.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Steven Levitt, co-author of the best-selling and somewhat controversial book "Freakonomics," is coming to Youngstown.
Levitt, whose book is subtitled, "A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything," will speak at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Stambaugh Auditorium as part of Youngstown State University's Paul J. and Marguerite K. Thomas Colloquium on Free Enterprise.
His appearance is free and open to the public.
Levitt, an economics professor at the University of Chicago, and his co-author, writer Stephen Dubner, wrote a book that critics say studies the riddles of everyday life -- from cheating to child-rearing -- and offers explanations, from an economist's perspective, for why things occur.
Some say the book's theory is that economics is really just the study of incentives -- what people want, how people get what they want and what they are willing to do to get it.
The book specifically covers a wide range of territory, from the inner workings of a crack gang (which shows the street-level dealer is actually working for less than minimum wage) to allegations of cheating on matches by Sumo wrestlers.
His theories
There's even a theory that the major drop in crime in the United States in the 1990s can be largely attributed to the rise in the number of abortions in this country after the Roe v. Wade court decision in 1973 which basically legalized abortion.
Levitt's writings, particularly the abortion versus crime theory, have angered liberals and conservatives alike.
He was chosen as one of Time magazine's "100 People Who Shape Our World" in 2006 and is the recipient of the American Economic Association's John Bates Clark Medal, awarded to the best U.S. economist under age 40.
He's willing to tackle any subject.
"Tax evasion. Money laundering. I'd like to put together a set of tools that lets us catch terrorists," he said. "I mean, that's the goal. I don't necessarily know how to go about it, but, given the right data, I have little doubt that I could figure out the answer."