The Economics of Everyday Things

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 sign saying "Fluffy."   SOURCES: Amelia Barklow , owner of two pet ducks, Wobbles and Bean. Mike Gays , managing director of Global Pet Relocation. Gemma Tappin , pet relocation consultant team leader at Global Pet Relocation.   RESOURCES: " Service...

More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates.   SOURCES: Jordan Beckwith , YouTuber and advocate. Eric Neufeld , owner and medical director of Agile Orthopedics.   RESOURCES: " Medicare Coverage of Durable Medical Equipment & Other Devices ," by Medicare (2024). " Limb Loss in the U.S. ," infographic by t...

Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows a few seeds.   SOURCES: Justin Hancock , director of research and development at Costa Farms. Brian Williams , co-owner of Brian's Botanicals. Sarah Williams, co-owner Brian's Botanicals.   RESOURCES: " Bidding Wars and $1,000 Succulents: The Wild World of Rare Houseplant...

Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary Crockett laces up.   SOURCES: Mike Leong , owner of Bel Mateo Bowl. Devon Stewart , head coach of Florida State University bowling team, C.E.O. of Bowl Connect, and consultant with the Hansell Group.   RESOURCES: " Cornhole and Bowling Are the Sports...

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 mailbox.   SOURCES : Brett Chamberlin , program manager at Catalog Choice. Aaron Gordon , journalist. Mike Gunderson , president of Gunderson Direct.   RESOURCES : " U.S. Postal Service Reports Fiscal Year 2023 Results ," by the U.S. Postal Service (2023...

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 , managing partner of Hupy & Abraham. Nora Engstrom , professor at Stanford Law School. Kyle Hebenstreit , C.E.O. of Practice Made Perfect.   RESOURCES: “ Personal Injury Settlement Amounts Examples (2024 Guide) ,” by Jeffrey Johnson ( Forbes Advisor...

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 in the Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University. Patricia Tuz , president of New York ATM. Jon Weilbaker , general manager of New York ATM. Sasha Weilbaker , freelance writer and daughter of Patricia and Jon.   RESOURCES: " The Number...

Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning.   SOURCES: Brad Bolman , postdoctoral member of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz , prosthodontist and chief editor for Dental Economics. Wendell Potter , president of the Center for Health and Democracy; former executive...

Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention for private-label manufacturers.   SOURCES: Kusum Ailawadi , professor of marketing at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Eric Beringause , C.E.O. of Winland Foods. Ryan Boyle , vice president of sales at Kitchen Innovations. Samantha Burd , co-owner of La...

Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is comfortable. Zachary Crockett fast-forwards straight to the good parts.    SOURCES: Alicia Rodis , intimacy coordinator. Matthew Swanlund , founder and principal attorney at Aesthetic Legal.   RESOURCES: " Romance or Nomance? Adolescents Prefer to See Less Sex,...

American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links.   SOURCES: Todd Hutchinson , president and owner of BallHawker. Lashan Wanigatunga , founder of Two Guys With Balls.   RESOURCES: " BallHawker, Challenge Enterprises Turn Wayward Golf Shots Into Successful Endeavor ," Natalie Gilstrap ( Clay Today, 202...

The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn.   SOURCES: Ed Currie , founder and president of the PuckerButt Pepper Company. Stephanie Walker , associate professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist at New Mexico State University   RESOURCES: " Pepper X Dethrones Carolina Reaper as World’s Hottest Chili Pepper ," by Sanj Atwal ( Guinness World Records,...

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: "Ben," former professional card counter. Bill Zender , co-founder of Bill Zender and Associates casino consulting firm.   RESOURCES: " Blackjack Player Sues Ameristar Casino, City of Black Hawk Over Alleged Detainment for Card Counting ," by Megan Ul...

Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett squints at the menu.   SOURCES: Nick Kokonas , founder and co-owner of The Alinea Group. Charlie Mitchell , executive chef and co-owner of Clover Hill restaurant.   RESOURCES: " Michelin Announces 2022 Stars for New York City ," by Ryan Sutton and Luke Fortney ( Eater, 2022). " What’...

The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation. But millennials have their own ideas about what sentiments they want to convey. Zachary Crockett is thinking of you on your special day.     SOURCES: Mia Mercado , writer and former editor at Hallmark. George White , president of Up With Paper and former president of the American Greeting Card A...

How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply?  Zachary Crockett wades in.   SOURCE: Dina Fine Maron , senior wildlife crime investigative reporter at National Geographic.   RESOURCES: " When the Horseshoe Crabs Are Gone, We’ll Be in Trouble ," by Deborah Cramer ( The New York Times, 2023). " Horseshoe Crab Blood Is...

How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away.    SOURCES: Delaney Diamond , romance novelist. Danielle Flores , high school math teacher and avid romance novel reader. Brenda Hiatt , romance novelist. Diane Moggy , vice president of editorial at Harlequin. RESOURCES: " Even as Overall Book S...

Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out.   RESOURCES: " The Knack Sue Run-DMC Over 'It’s Tricky' Riff ," ( Rolling Stone, 2006). Clip of "My Sharona" in the film Reality Bites (1994). " The Knack: Where Are They Now? " by David Fricke ( Rolling Stone, 1986). " Top Singles of the Year ," ( Billboard, 1979). " My Bologna ," by Weird Al Yankovic (1...

 Is graffiti public art, or public nuisance? It depends who you ask. Zachary Crockett tags in where it all started.   RESOURCES: " Philadelphia Graffiti Pier: A Love Letter to the City’s Underground Arts ," by Honora Feinberg ( Guide to Philly, 2023). " USA TODAY Names Philadelphia 'Best City for Street Art ,'" ( Visit Philadelphia, 2023). " Cornbread, the First Graffiti Artist, Shows New Work at...

Executives shell out millions of dollars for the privilege of flying private — but that convenience comes at a steep cost to the rest of us. Zachary Crockett prepares for takeoff.   RESOURCES: " High Flyers 2023: How Ultra-Rich Private Jet Travel Costs the Rest of Us and Burns Up the Planet ," by Chuck Collins, Omar Ocampo, and Kalena Thomhave (joint report by The Patriotic Millionaires and the In...

How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story.   RESOURCES: " Almond Acreage Decline Prompts Industry Introspection ," by Mitch Lies ( West Coast Nut, 2023). American Pistachio Industry 2021 Annual Report , by American Pistachio Growers (2023). " California’s Agricultural Water Policies Are Nuts ," by Dou...

In the final part of our series, Zachary Crockett talks to a man with a storied — and controversial — career in the body parts business.   RESOURCES " Inside the Largely Unregulated Market for Bodies Donated to Science: 'It's Harder to Sell Hot Dogs on a Cart ,'" by Justin Sherman ( CBS News, 2023). " Bilirakis, Fletcher, Murphy and Tillis Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Stop Brokering of...

In the first of two episodes, Zachary Crockett digs into the strange and discomfiting history of cadavers, and the industry that has emerged around them.   RESOURCES: " From Grave Robbing to Giving Your Own Body to Science – A Short History of Where Medical Schools Get Cadavers ," by Susan Lawrence and Susan E. Lederer ( The Conversation, 2023). " Box of Human Heads Stolen From Truck in Denver ,"...

Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood.   RESOURCES: " Private Equity Wants to Wash Your Car ," by Miriam Gottfried ( The Wall Street Journal, 2022). " California Labor Commissioner Recovers $282,000 for Car Wash Wage Citations ," State of California Department of Industrial Relations News Release (2022). "...

More people than ever before are getting tattoos — but social media has flipped the trade’s business model on its head. Zachary Crockett dips into the ink.   RESOURCES: " 32% of Americans Have a Tattoo, Including 22% Who Have More Than One ," by Katherine Schaeffer and Shradha Dinesh ( Pew Research Center, 2023). " Tattoo Removal Business Draws Up High-Growth Potential ," by Tim Clark ( Forbes, 20...