Tricks of the TradeTrump's Second TermMy EconomyI've Always Wondered ...

Loading...

0:00
0% played
Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!

I've Always Wondered ...

If you’re like us, you’ve got a lot of questions about the small, simple, ubiquitous things in the world of business. Let's find the answers.
What have you always wondered about the economy?

Does it make cents to get rid of the penny?
I've Always Wondered ...
Does it make cents to get rid of the penny?
What happens to your Christmas tree after the holidays? 
I've Always Wondered ...
What happens to your Christmas tree after the holidays? 
Why are bananas so cheap?
I've Always Wondered ...
Why are bananas so cheap?
What is the economic impact of lost and stolen packages? 
I've Always Wondered ...
What is the economic impact of lost and stolen packages? 

From This Collection

I've Always Wondered ...

How does Honey Baked Ham stay open year round?

by Janet Nguyen
Dec 23, 2021
While the restaurant chain is known for its holiday meals, some of its customers treat it as a casual lunch spot.
A view of one of Honey Baked Ham's signature spiral-cut hams and its turkey breast.
The HoneyBaked Ham Co.
Share Now on:
SHARE
I've Always Wondered ...

How did Pearson succeed in the U.S. higher-education publishing market?

by Janet Nguyen
Dec 16, 2021
The London-based company is one of the biggest textbook publishers in the country.
A view of the service Pearson+, a subscription model that allows customers to access textbooks for a monthly fee.
Courtesy Pearson
Share Now on:
SHARE
I've Always Wondered ...

Why do Walmart shoppers enter on the left and exit on the right?

by Janet Nguyen
Dec 9, 2021
It’s a matter of directing heavy foot traffic, experts say.
A view of a Walmart store in Illinois back in the early 2000s, which shows an entrance on the left and exit on the right.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE
I've Always Wondered ...

When was the last time we paid down the national debt?

by Janet Nguyen
Dec 2, 2021
The U.S. owes almost $29 trillion.
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington. Congress is discussing what to do about the federal debt limit, again.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE
I've Always Wondered ...

Why is there still a need for physical bank branches?

by Janet Nguyen
Nov 18, 2021
Even as online banking has become more common, having face-to-face interaction with consumers is still important.
Pedestrians walk by a Chase bank on July 13, 2021 in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE
I've Always Wondered ...

How do states without a sales tax or income tax pay for government services?

by Janet Nguyen
Nov 11, 2021
Only two states — Alaska and New Hampshire — have foregone both of these taxes.
A landscape view of Alaska, which is one of only two states that has neither a sales tax nor an income tax.
mantaphoto/Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE
I've Always Wondered ...

How the $3 campaign contribution check box on your tax form works

by Janet Nguyen
Nov 4, 2021
The federal form allows you to contribute to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. Few people do, and candidates aren’t accepting the offer.
The Presidential Election Campaign box on your federal tax form allows you to direct a few bucks to publicly funded races. Most people don't, and candidates have been turning down the offer.
Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE

For public good, not for profit.

Donate
I've Always Wondered ...

Are YouTube creators and Twitch streamers included in the monthly jobs report?

by Janet Nguyen
Oct 28, 2021
Making Youtube videos or streaming on twitch can be a full-time job (for some).
fizkes/Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE
I've Always Wondered ...

Will stock market indexes go up forever?

by Janet Nguyen
Oct 21, 2021
U.S. stock indexes have climbed in recent decades but, historically speaking, the long run is a better bet than the short term.
Stocks have trended upward over the long run, along with the U.S. economy.
champc/Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE
I've Always Wondered ...

Why does our tax system have brackets?

by Janet Nguyen
Oct 14, 2021
Each bracket covers a range of incomes, but the rates increase for those who make more.
The U.S. tax system has seven brackets, but some think it should be overhauled to include more.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Share Now on:
SHARE