The Economics of Everyday Things

How much does it cost to design and build a mini-golf course? And what’s it like to run one? Zachary Crockett putts things in perspective.   SOURCES:Katie Conaboy, CEO and co-owner of Harris Miniature...

How do flavorists capture the essence of a fruit and put it in a can of sparkling water, or a tub of yogurt? Zachary Crockett takes a bite.   SOURCES:Terry Miesle, master flavorist at Sensient Technol...

A day on the job includes hundreds of quarters, giant balls of lint, and fishing weird stuff out of machines. Zachary Crockett throws in a load.   SOURCES:Jordan Berry, owner of Laundromat Resource.  ...

Running a campground isn’t all eating s'mores around the campfire. Zachary Crockett fans the flames.   SOURCES:Mark Lemoine, owner, Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday campground; sr. vice president, franch...

When gas prices skyrocket, do station owners get a windfall? And where do their profits really come from? Zachary Crockett pulls up to the pump.   SOURCES:Garrett Golding, assistant vice president of ...

Every year, thousands of products are recalled from store shelves. How does the process work — and who foots the bill? Zachary Crockett gets a refund on his frozen shrimp.   SOURCES:Chris Harvey, seni...

In a sport that generates more than $3.5 billion a year, teams compete in cars that cost $70 million to develop and build — and a split-second to crash. Zachary Crockett assesses the damage.   SOURCES...

The world’s oldest advertising medium has reconfigured itself for the digital age. Zachary Crockett looks up.   SOURCES:Anna Bager, president and C.E.O. of the Out-of-Home Advertising Association of A...

Some singles choose to skip the apps and get fixed up the old-fashioned way — but it doesn't come cheap. Zachary Crockett puts himself out there.   SOURCES:Maria Avgitidis, C.E.O. of Agape Match and a...

They have thousands of congregants and millions of dollars in income. Zachary Crockett passes the collection plate.   SOURCES:Julie Roys, founder of the Roys Report.Scott Thumma, professor of sociolog...