Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Freakonomics: Goofy correlation of the day
In the category of goofy correlations, check out this graph of average credit scores by email domain. I can understand why Comcast and Bellsouth are higher than the internet services -- you cannot get or at least maintain cable television if you do not pay your bills -- but why is Gmail so high? Is it because of its original invitation-only growth strategy?
3 Comments:
By 
MEANA55, at
Wed Oct 21, 01:19:00 PM:
I could be wrong, but I think that GMail requires that you "close the loop" by responding to a message texted to your cell phone. Cell providers run credit checks.
It's funny to me that--as red as Larry Page and Sergei Brin are--Google is doing its part to keep the digital divide from closing.
By 
, at
Wed Oct 21, 05:28:00 PM:
GMail used to, but no longer, require either a response to a cell text or an invite from an existing member.
By Donna B., at
Thu Oct 22, 12:13:00 AM:
I have longstanding relationships with Yahoo, Gmail, and Comcast, yet Comcast is the only one I have near monthly phone conversations without poor service.
Where is Comcast's credit rating?
ohnevermind...
