The Economics of Everyday Things

Where is “the cloud,” anyway? It’s in a bunch of nondescript warehouses all over the country. Zachary Crockett serves up the story.   SOURCES: Chris Kimm, senior vice president of global customer care...

A new thrill ride can cost an amusement park $20 million or more — but roller coasters attract customers like nothing else. Zachary Crockett must be at least this tall to host this episode.   SOURCES:...

It takes a highly skilled stenographer — and some specialized equipment — to transcribe TV dialogue in real time at 300 words per minute. Will A.I. rewrite the script? Zachary Crockett tries to keep u...

The ability to get into any home, car, or safe can be lucrative — but fixing locks is a tough business. Zachary Crockett gets the key information.   SOURCES:Wayne Winton, owner of Tri-County Locksmith...

Those tiny treats that predict your future may come free at the end of a Chinese meal, but they’re big business (and not Chinese). Zachary Crockett will go on a long journey.   SOURCES: Jennifer 8. Le...

When you hit the slopes, you might not be thinking about water rights, controlled avalanches, and liability insurance — but someone has to. Zachary Crockett shreds the pow.    SOURCES:Andrew Gast, gen...

We reach for it twice a day — without thinking about the decades of research and engineering that went into that squeezable tube of minty goo. Zachary Crockett extracts the last bit.   SOURCES:Stephan...

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. ...

Security guards make malls feel safer, but what can they do when there’s trouble? Zachary Crockett observes and reports.   SOURCES:Gus Parsons, mall cop in the San Diego area.David Levenberg, owner of...

How do TV producers decide how much money to give away? A little psychology and a lot of math. Zachary Crockett phones a friend.   SOURCES:Bowen Kerins, math teacher and former contestant on Who Wants...