Ever wonder if you should hire someone to mow your lawn or clean your house? Harvard economist Roland Fryer has some surprising insights that might change how you think about your time.

It all starts with a simple question: Should Fryer cut his own grass or pay someone else to do it? What seems like a basic household decision actually reveals a fundamental economic principle that most of us get wrong.

Fryer breaks down the concept of opportunity cost—what you're giving up when you choose to spend your time one way instead of another. The math might surprise you: Only 10% of Americans pay for help with household chores, but Fryer argues that number should be much higher based on pure economics.

But here's where it gets interesting. The decision isn't just about money. Whether you're an investment banker pulling 90-hour weeks or a parent weighing the cost of a cleaning service against precious family time, there are deeper factors at play.

Watch as Fryer walks through the framework for making these everyday choices and discover why sometimes the economically rational decision might not be the right one for you.