What is the cheapest, nutritious, and most bountiful food that has ever existed? It has 390 calories, 23 grams of protein, and costs under $2. It's the McDouble. Is it wrong to classify a fast food hamburger as the most nutritious food? The host of Freakonomics doesn't think so.
One scholar argued that the only reason the McDouble is cheap, is that it doesn't factor in all the external costs, including poor farm workers. A Missouri farm worker doesn't see the debate that way. He argues that he is also a consumer, and low food prices, such as the McDouble, is a benefit to him.
"Pay is only good in so much as what it can buy, and what you can buy is a McDonald's cheeseburger for just a little over one buck at over 14,000 restaurants. And that is a good thing." - Blake Hurst, President of the Missouri Farm BureauAs Blake Hurst pointed out, the McDouble is bountiful. There are McDonald's everywhere all across the country. If one needed to feed a large amount of people well and for the least amount of money possible, this burger would be the best choice.
This podcast suspends what people believe, and makes them think as an economist would. Obviously, the McDouble isn't the best food choice out there. But in order to get the most calories for the least amount of money, one would buy a hamburger from McDonald's. Economics is all about trying to get the most for the money.
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