Podcasts · Business

The Economics of Everyday Things

Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett

228 episodes

Who decides which snacks are in your office’s vending machine? How much is a suburban elm tree worth, and to whom? How did Girl Scout Cookies become a billion-dollar business? In bite-sized episodes, journalist Zachary Crockett looks at quotidian things and finds amazing stories.

More about the show

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Episodes page 1 of 5

  1. 85. Executive Recruiters

    · 21 min · Episode 85

    When a Fortune 500 company needs a new leader, it turns to a well-connected headhunter who assesses candidates with psychological tests and mock TV interviews. Zachary Crockett activates his network. This episode was…

  2. 84. Mall Cops

    · 18 min · Episode 84

    Security guards make malls feel safer, but what can they do when there’s trouble? Zachary Crockett observes and reports. This episode was originally published on March 16th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz…

  3. 83. Game Show Winnings

    · 19 min · Episode 83

    How do TV producers decide how much money to give away? A little psychology and a lot of math. Zachary Crockett phones a friend. This episode was originally published on March 9th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an…

  4. 82. Chain Restaurant Recipes

    · 17 min · Episode 82

    A fast-food burger has to taste the same — and cost the same — thousands of times a day at restaurants across the country. Zachary Crockett mans the fryer. This episode was originally published on March 2nd, 2025.…

  5. 81. Guide Dogs

    · 22 min · Episode 81

    Before a guide dog can help a blind person navigate the world, it has to pass a series of tests, then go through $75,000 worth of training. Zachary Crockett sniffs around. This episode was originally published on…

  6. 80. Going-Out-of-Business Sales

    · 16 min · Episode 80

    Behind that 70% off sign, there’s a liquidation consultant trying to maximize retailer profits. Zachary Crockett seeks a deal. This episode was originally published on February 9th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an…

  7. 79. School Photos

    · 18 min · Episode 79

    Picture day is an annual tradition for American families — and, for the companies that take the photos, a lucrative one. Zachary Crockett smiles for the camera. This episode was originally published on February 2nd,…

  8. 78. Porta-Potties

    · 20 min · Episode 78

    They're not always the nicest places to go — but for their owners, portable toilets are a lucrative revenue stream. Zachary Crockett lifts the lid. This episode was originally published on January 26th, 2025. Hosted…

  9. 77. Hand Models

    · 16 min · Episode 77

    You can be a top model and still not get recognized on the street — as long as you keep your cuticles healthy and your moons white. Zachary Crockett points a finger. This episode was originally published on January…

  10. 76. Hotel Art

    · 17 min · Episode 76

    A watercolor of a harbor? A black-and-white photo of a pile of rocks? Some hotels are trying to do better. Zachary Crockett unpacks. This episode was originally published on January 12th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast,…

  11. 75. Butchers

    · 20 min · Episode 75

    Before beef ends up at your favorite steakhouse, it passes through the hands of a trained specialist with an encyclopedic knowledge of bovine anatomy. Zachary Crockett chews the fat. This episode was originally…

  12. Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person

    · 33 min · Bonus

    He started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. In this episode of Stephen Dubner’s new TV talk show, James Daunt tells Stephen exactly how he does it. If you'd…

  13. 74. Fonts

    · 22 min · Episode 74

    Behind almost every character you see displayed on a page or a screen, there’s a complex — and sometimes lucrative — web of licensing deals. Zachary Crockett is just your type. This episode was originally published on…

  14. 73. Used Bookstores

    · 17 min · Episode 73

    Americans throw away 320 million books every year. How do some of them find a second life? Zachary Crockett is just browsing. This episode was originally published on December 8th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an…

  15. 72. Helium

    · 20 min · Episode 72

    It’s unreactive, lighter than air, and surprisingly important to the global economy. Zachary Crockett goes up an octave. This episode was originally published on November 24th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz…

  16. 71. Mannequins

    · 19 min · Episode 71

    Mannequins may be made out of plastic or fiberglass, but for retailers they’re pure gold. Zachary Crockett strikes a pose. This episode was originally published on November 17th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz…

  17. 70. Prison Labor

    · 21 min · Episode 70

    Incarcerated people grow crops, fight wildfires, and manufacture everything from motor oil to prescription glasses — often for pennies per hour. Zachary Crockett reports from North Carolina. This episode was originally…

  18. 69. Highway Signs

    · 20 min · Episode 69

    It takes millions of giant green placards to make America navigable. Where do they come from — and who pays the bill? Zachary Crockett takes the exit. This episode was originally published on November 3rd, 2024.…

  19. 68. Zoo Animals

    · 18 min · Episode 68

    When a zoo needs an elephant, or finds itself with three surplus penguins, it doesn’t buy or sell the animals — it asks around. Zachary Crockett rattles the cages. This episode was originally published on October 27th,…

  20. 67. Tow Trucks

    · 22 min · Episode 67

    Tow-truck drivers: roadside rescuers or car confiscators? Zachary Crockett gets hooked. This episode was originally published on October 20th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for…

  21. 66. Stradivarius Violins

    · 20 min · Episode 66

    Why are these 300-year-old instruments still coveted by violinists today? And how do working musicians get their hands on multimillion-dollar antiques? Zachary Crockett is not fiddling around. This episode was…

  22. 65. Stock Photos

    · 23 min · Episode 65

    Making money in the stock image business requires a sharp eye for trends, a very specific type of model, and a race against A.I. Zachary Crockett takes his shot. This episode was originally published on September 29th,…

  23. 64. Sushi Fish

    · 21 min · Episode 64

    How does a fresh tuna get from Japan to Nebraska before it goes bad? And how does its journey show up in the price of your spicy tuna rolls? Zachary Crockett gets schooled. This episode was originally published on…

  24. 63. Botox

    · 17 min · Episode 63

    Why do millions of people pay to have one of the world’s deadliest toxins injected into their faces? Zachary Crockett looks surprised. This episode was originally published on September 15th, 2024. Hosted by…

  25. 62. Title Insurance

    · 15 min · Episode 62

    Almost everyone who buys a home spends thousands of dollars on title insurance. Most of them don’t understand it, and almost none of them use it. So why does it exist? Zachary Crockett closes the deal. This episode was…

  26. 61. Pigeons

    · 19 min · Episode 61

    Once considered noble and heroic, pigeons are now viewed as an urban nuisance — one that costs cities millions of dollars a year. Zachary Crockett tosses some crumbs. This episode was originally published on August 25,…

  27. 60. Money Laundering

    · 21 min · Episode 60

    How do criminals turn their ill-gotten gains into taxable income? And how does law enforcement stop them? Zachary Crockett follows the money. This episode was originally published on August 18th, 2024. Hosted by…

  28. 59. Restaurant Reservations

    · 19 min · Episode 59

    Thanks to online booking platforms, the way we make reservations has changed — but a table at a hot restaurant on a Friday night is still a valuable commodity. Zachary Crockett books a four-top for 7 p.m. This episode…

  29. 58. Firefighters

    · 22 min · Episode 58

    There are more firefighters than ever — and fewer fires for them to fight. So the job has changed. Zachary Crockett slides down the pole. This episode was originally published on August 4, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast,…

  30. 57. Strippers

    · 19 min · Episode 57

    Performing at a strip club can be lucrative, but it requires financial and psychological savvy — and an eye for social trends. Zachary Crockett takes a look. This episode was originally published on July 21st, 2024.…

  31. 56. Snake Venom

    · 22 min · Episode 56

    Why does treating a venomous snake bite cost as much as a house? Zachary Crockett slithers over to North Carolina to find out. This episode was originally published on July 14th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz…

  32. 55. Direct-to-Consumer Mattresses

    · 21 min · Episode 55

    Online companies promised to bring transparency to the mattress-buying experience. Did that work out? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the sheets. This episode was originally published on July 7th, 2024. Hosted by…

  33. 54. Ghostwriters

    · 20 min · Episode 54

    Channeling the voices of celebrities can be a lucrative career — one that requires empathy and discretion as well as literary chops. Zachary Crockett checks the acknowledgements. This episode was originally published…

  34. 53. Food Trucks

    · 19 min · Episode 53

    How did mobile kitchens become popular with hipster gourmands? And just how much money can a popular truck make from a lunch shift? Zachary Crocket drops some napkins. This episode was originally published on June…

  35. 52. Little League

    · 21 min · Episode 52

    Youth baseball — long a widely accessible American pastime — has become overrun by $10,000-per-year, for-profit travel leagues. Zachary Crockett peers inside the dugout. This episode was originally published on June…

  36. 51. Wine Corks

    · 16 min · Episode 51

    Why do we use a specific kind of tree-bark tissue to seal up 70 percent of wine bottles? Zachary Crockett takes a sniff and gives the waiter a nod. This episode was originally published on June 9th, 2024. Hosted by…

  37. 50. Self-Checkout

    · 19 min · Episode 50

    Grocery stores have turned shoppers into cashiers. Zachary Crockett runs two bags of chips and a Gatorade over the scanner. This episode was originally published on June 2nd, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz…

  38. 49. Weather Forecasts

    · 14 min · Episode 49

    With industries relying on them and profits to be made, weather forecasts are more precise and more popular than ever. But there are clouds on the horizon. Zachary Crockett grabs an umbrella. This episode was…

  39. 48. College Fraternities

    · 19 min · Episode 48

    A fraternity’s budget includes broken windows, liability insurance, chili dog breakfasts, and the occasional $40,000 DJ. Zachary Crockett crashes the party. This episode was originally published on May 12th, 2024.…

  40. 47. Bail Bonds

    · 18 min · Episode 47

    How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money. This episode was originally published on May 5th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information…

  41. 46. Car Colors

    · 18 min · Episode 46

    So many vehicles on the road today are white, black, or gray — but automotive designers find that consumer preferences may be changing lanes. Zachary Crockett surveys the lot. This episode was originally published on…

  42. 45. Storage Units

    · 16 min · Episode 45

    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 cleans out the garage. This episode was originally published on April…

  43. 44. Movie Sound Effects

    · 19 min · Episode 44

    The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized studios by professionals known as Foley artists. Zachary Crockett makes some noise. This episode was…

  44. 43. Top-Level Domains

    · 19 min · Episode 43

    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 Crockett follows the links. This episode was originally published on…

  45. 42. Cemeteries

    · 19 min · Episode 42

    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 buried. This episode was originally published on March 31st, 2024.…

  46. 41. Pet Movers

    · 16 min · Episode 41

    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." This episode was originally published on March…

  47. 40. Prosthetic Limbs

    · 17 min · Episode 40

    More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates. This episode was originally published on March 17th, 2024. Hosted by…

  48. 39. Houseplants

    · 14 min · Episode 39

    Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows a few seeds. This episode was originally published on March 10th, 2024. Hosted by…

  49. 38. Junk Mail

    · 18 min · Episode 38

    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. This episode was originally published on February 25th, 2024.…

  50. 37. Personal Injury Lawyers

    · 18 min · Episode 37

    If you can make it through three years of law school, you too might end up on a billboard. Zachary Crockett makes the case. This episode was originally published on February 18th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an…

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