The Economics of Everyday Things

Explore the sales strategies and revenue generation of Girl Scout Cookies. Learn about Katie Francis, the record holder for cookie sales and the dedication involved. Discover the intense competition among parents and the evolution of cookie sales. Delve into the challenges, controversy, and financial risks faced by the Girl Scouts. Discover the benefits of selling cookies, gaining confidence, and developing entrepreneurial skills.

The most popular song of the 20th century — and a key part of a ubiquitous American ritual — was also the subject of a years-long legal battle. Zachary Crockett blows out the candles.

Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up.

Most sports bars rarely screen women's games. Zachary Crockett taps into the strategy of one woman who changed the channel.

Once a luxury good, the soft fiber is now everywhere — which has led to a goat boom in Mongolia. Zachary Crockett tugs at the thread.

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.

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.

Vanity plates might be 2KUL4U, but in the Blue Hen State, low-digit plates command high-digit prices. Zachary Crockett sums up a big market in a small state.

One creature’s trash is another’s cash. Zachary Crockett flushes out the numbers with a man who found profit in pee.

How do they emerge from the Upper Cretaceous period to end up in natural-history museums and private collections? Zachary Crockett digs for answers.