Stephen Dubner

And as governments and legal institutions expanded, there was ever more need to go back into the archives to find these important foundational documents. This meant that lawyers and clerks had to constantly untie and retie those red ribbons, later called red tape. OK, that concludes our history for today. Back to the sludgy present.

And as governments and legal institutions expanded, there was ever more need to go back into the archives to find these important foundational documents. This meant that lawyers and clerks had to constantly untie and retie those red ribbons, later called red tape. OK, that concludes our history for today. Back to the sludgy present.

In last week's episode, we met the Stanford economist Neil Mahoney, who spent time in both the Biden and Obama administrations. He is particularly interested in consumer finance, which often means protecting consumers from financial exploitation.

In last week's episode, we met the Stanford economist Neil Mahoney, who spent time in both the Biden and Obama administrations. He is particularly interested in consumer finance, which often means protecting consumers from financial exploitation.

In last week's episode, we met the Stanford economist Neil Mahoney, who spent time in both the Biden and Obama administrations. He is particularly interested in consumer finance, which often means protecting consumers from financial exploitation.

Meaning it's easy to sign up for something and forget about it. and keep paying for it. For example, a digital subscription to a newspaper.

Meaning it's easy to sign up for something and forget about it. and keep paying for it. For example, a digital subscription to a newspaper.

Meaning it's easy to sign up for something and forget about it. and keep paying for it. For example, a digital subscription to a newspaper.

You're saying these are 50 newspapers spread out across the country, but you're doing the signing up and canceling in Massachusetts.

You're saying these are 50 newspapers spread out across the country, but you're doing the signing up and canceling in Massachusetts.

You're saying these are 50 newspapers spread out across the country, but you're doing the signing up and canceling in Massachusetts.

And why is it relevant where you're doing it from? Because the laws apply to where your IP address is.

And why is it relevant where you're doing it from? Because the laws apply to where your IP address is.

And why is it relevant where you're doing it from? Because the laws apply to where your IP address is.

And that's just because California has always been pretty consumer progressive in that way, correct? That's right. Okay. So you've got a team, some are in California, some are in Massachusetts, and you're doing the same thing from those two places. Is that right?

And that's just because California has always been pretty consumer progressive in that way, correct? That's right. Okay. So you've got a team, some are in California, some are in Massachusetts, and you're doing the same thing from those two places. Is that right?

And that's just because California has always been pretty consumer progressive in that way, correct? That's right. Okay. So you've got a team, some are in California, some are in Massachusetts, and you're doing the same thing from those two places. Is that right?

So what did Mahoney and his team learn from this research? Remember, in Massachusetts, fewer than half of the biggest newspapers in the country let you cancel online in the first place. Of those that did allow online cancellation, the vast majority slowed down the process with the kind of sludge that Mahoney was just describing.

So what did Mahoney and his team learn from this research? Remember, in Massachusetts, fewer than half of the biggest newspapers in the country let you cancel online in the first place. Of those that did allow online cancellation, the vast majority slowed down the process with the kind of sludge that Mahoney was just describing.

So what did Mahoney and his team learn from this research? Remember, in Massachusetts, fewer than half of the biggest newspapers in the country let you cancel online in the first place. Of those that did allow online cancellation, the vast majority slowed down the process with the kind of sludge that Mahoney was just describing.