The Economics of Everyday Things

54 episodes transcribed
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48. College Fraternities

Episode Date: May 13, 2024

A fraternity’s budget includes broken windows, liability insurance, chili dog breakfasts, and the occasional $40,000 DJ. Zachary Crockett crashes the...

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47. Bail Bonds

Episode Date: May 6, 2024

How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money. SOURCES:Joshua Page, professor of sociology and law at the Universit...

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46. Car Colors

Episode Date: April 29, 2024

So many vehicles on the road today are white, black, or gray — but automotive designers find that consumer preferences may be changing lanes. Zachary...

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45. Storage Units

Episode Date: April 22, 2024

Americans love to buy new stuff and hate to get rid of old stuff, which is why storing it all has become a $45 billion business. Zachary Crockett clea...

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44. Movie Sound Effects

Episode Date: April 15, 2024

The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized studios by professionals known as Foley ar...

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43. Top-Level Domains

Episode Date: April 8, 2024

Those letters at the end of web addresses can mean big bucks — and, for some small countries, a substantial part of the national budget. Zachary Crock...

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42. Cemeteries

Episode Date: April 1, 2024

The verdant lawns promise everlasting rest — but what does it mean to sign a lease for all eternity? Zachary Crockett finds out where the bodies are b...

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41. Pet Movers

Episode Date: March 25, 2024

Relocating halfway across the world is hard enough for humans. For pets it can require a specialist. Zachary Crockett waits at the airport, holding a...

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40. Prosthetic Limbs

Episode Date: March 18, 2024

More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates. SOURCES:Jo...

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39. Houseplants

Episode Date: March 11, 2024

Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows a few seeds. SOURCES:J...

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Bowling Alleys (Replay)

Episode Date: March 4, 2024

Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary C...

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38. Junk Mail

Episode Date: February 26, 2024

Why does the mailman bring us so many catalogs, credit card offers, and pizza coupons? Because his job depends on it. Zachary Crockett checks the mail...

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37. Personal Injury Lawyers

Episode Date: February 19, 2024

If you can make it through three years of law school, you too might end up on a billboard.  Zachary Crockett makes the case. SOURCES:Jason Abraham, ma...

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36. ATMs

Episode Date: February 12, 2024

Why do you have to pay $4 to get $40 cash at a bar? And who does it go to? Zachary Crockett checks his balance. SOURCES:Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, professor...

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35. Dental Insurance

Episode Date: February 5, 2024

Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. SOURCES:Brad Bolman, postdoctor...

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34. Store-Brand Products

Episode Date: January 29, 2024

Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention for private-label man...

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33. Sex Scenes

Episode Date: January 22, 2024

Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is comfortable...

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32. Used Golf Balls

Episode Date: January 15, 2024

American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links. SO...

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31. Superhot Chili Peppers

Episode Date: January 8, 2024

The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. SOURCES:Ed Currie, founder and president of the PuckerButt...

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30. Card Counting

Episode Date: January 1, 2024

Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. SOURCES:"Be...