Episode · Freakonomics Radio · 2025-07-23
Books mentioned on Why Does One Tiny State Set the Rules for Everyone? (Update)
Until recently, Delaware was almost universally agreed to be the best place for companies to incorporate. Now, with Elon Musk leading a corporate stampede out of the First State, we revisit an episode from 2023 that asked if Delaware’s “franchise” is wildly corrupt, wildly efficient … or both?
Stephen Dubner discussed What’s the Matter with Delaware? by Hal Weitzman and Global Shell Games by Michael G. Findley and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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What’s the Matter with Delaware?
What’s the Matter with Delaware? by Hal Weitzman examines how the state of Delaware has constructed corporate and legal frameworks that disproportionately benefit the wealthy, powerful, and corporate entities at a cost to the rest of the nation.
Discussed“In 2022, Hal Whitesman published a book called What's the Matter with Delaware? How the First State Has Favored the Rich, Powerful, and Criminal, and How It Costs Us All.”
Where to get it
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Global Shell Games
Discussed“Nielsen and his co-authors compiled their findings in a 2014 book called Global Shell Games. We reported that the United States was the easiest place in the world to get an anonymous shell company.”
Where to get it
