The Economics of Everyday Things

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. Lee [https://www.jennifer8lee.com/], documentarian and author of The Fortune Cookie Chronicles. * Norman Wong [https://wontonfood.com/en/philanthropy-2/], C.E.O. of Wonton Food.   * RESOURCES:  * "Canadian Influencer’s Amazement at Absence of Fortune Cookies in China Restaurants Triggers Amusing Online Discussion About Origins of Snack [https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3253332/canadian-influencers-amazement-absence-fortune-cookies-china-restaurants-triggers-amusing-online]," by Yating Yang (South China Morning Post, 2024). * "Fortune Cookies: They’re Japan’s Best-Kept Secret! [https://sakura.co/blog/fortune-cookies-theyre-japans-best-kept-secret?srsltid=AfmBOoo6XeMvrVd7cQm2nrsV1bgbuuyDZuw5OZKLciMqjDyvEgoNRIy5]" by Thalia Harris (Sakuraco, 2023). * "What I Learned Eating at 8,000 Chinese Restaurants [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59356176]," by Zhaoyin Feng (BBC News, 2021). * The Fortune Cookie Chronicles [https://www.amazon.com/Fortune-Cookie-Chronicles-Adventures-Chinese/dp/0446698970], by Jennifer 8. Lee (2008). * "Lottery Winners Find Good Fortune in Cookies [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7818686]," (NBC News, 2005).   * EXTRAS:  * "Girl Scout Cookies [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/girl-scout-cookies/]," by The Economics of Everyday Things (2023).

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjgast/], general manager of Mt. Ashland Ski Area. * Rob Goodell, chief operating officer at Loveland Ski Area.   * RESOURCES: * "State of the U.S. Ski Industry [https://nsaa.org/webdocs/Media_Public/IndustryStats/Econ_impact_infographic_2024.pdf]" (National Ski Areas Association, 2024). * "U.S. Ski Resorts in Operation During 2023/24 Season [https://nsaa.org/webdocs/Media_Public/IndustryStats/ski_areas_per_season_2024.pdf]" (National Ski Areas Association, 2024). * "Snowmaking 101 [https://snow-state.com/snowmaking-101/#:~:text=The%20expanding%20compressed%20air%20(typically,to%20the%20ground%20as%20snow.]" (Snow State). * Loveland Ski Area [https://skiloveland.com/history/]. * Mt. Ashland Ski Area [https://www.mtashland.com/season-passes/].   * EXTRAS: * "What it Takes to Run a Nonprofit Ski Hill [https://www.skimag.com/ski-resort-life/nonprofit-ski-areas/?scope=anon]," by Lily Ritter (Ski, 2020).

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 Habif [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-habif/], chief technology officer at Colgate-Palmolive. * Sergio Leite [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-leite-a5577982/], global head of Oral Care R&D at Colgate-Palmolive. * Peter Miskell [https://www.henley.ac.uk/people/dr-peter-miskell], professor of international business history at the University of Reading.   * EXTRAS: * "History of Toothpaste [https://www.deltadentalar.com/resources/blog/delta-dental/2019/03/13/history-of-toothpaste]" (Delta Dental of Arkansas, 2019). * "Cavity Protection or Cosmetic Perfection? Innovation and Marketing of Toothpaste Brands in the United States and Western Europe, 1955–1985 [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/business-history-review/article/abs/cavity-protection-or-cosmetic-perfection-innovation-and-marketing-of-toothpaste-brands-in-the-united-states-and-western-europe-19551985/6912418B15BAB9C91F5B5D3005EBBFF2]," by Peter Miskell (Business History Review, 2011).   * RESOURCES: * "9,000-Year-Old Dentistry [https://www.wired.com/2006/04/9000-year-old-dentistry/]," by WIRED Staff (WIRED, 2006).

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.     * SOURCES: * Julian Ha [https://www.heidrick.com/en/people/h/julian_ha], partner at the executive recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles. * Jane Stevenson [https://www.kornferry.com/about-us/consultants/janestevenson], global vice chair of board and CEO services at Korn Ferry.   * RESOURCES: * "The Transformation of the CEO, [https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/reports-surveys/global-ceo-turnover-index/the-transformation-of-the-ceo]" by Stephen Langton, Rusty O'Kelley, Laura Sanderson, and Sean Roberts (Russell Reynolds Associates, 2024). * "Executive Paywatch [https://aflcio.org/paywatch#:~:text=Average%20CEO%20Pay%20Is%20Growing,500%20Index%20companies%20in%202023]" (AFL-CIO, 2023). * "Diversity matters even more: The case for holistic impact, [https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-matters-even-more-the-case-for-holistic-impact]" by Dame Vivian Hunt, Sundiatu Dixon-Fyle, Celia Huber, María del Mar Martínez Márquez, Sara Prince, and Ashley Thomas (McKinsey & Company, 2023). * "CEO Tenure Rates, [https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2023/08/04/ceo-tenure-rates-2/#:~:text=Between%202013%20and%202022%2C%20the,terms%20in%20their%20leadership%20roles]" by Joyce Chen (Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governenance, 2023). * "Best Industries to Recruit for in the US [https://pgcgroup.com/blog/top-us-recruitment-sectors-for-growth]" (Precision Global Consulting).

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-levenberg-ba2307258/], owner of Center Security Services.   * RESOURCES: * "Mall of America's security team will start using facial recognition software as part of safety plan, [https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/mall-of-americas-security-team-will-start-using-facial-recognition-software-as-part-of-safety-plan/]" by Derek James (CBS News, 2024). * "The Problems Inside North America’s Largest Security Firm—and Third-Biggest Employer, [https://time.com/6278534/allied-universal-security-problems/]" by Alana Semuels (Time, 2023). * "Malls Work on Their Security, but Keep It in the Background, [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/27/realestate/commercial/malls-work-on-their-security-but-keep-it-in-the-background.html#:~:text=Paying%20salaries%20for%20additional%20security,International%20Council%20of%20Shopping%20Centers]" by Ronda Kaysen (New York Times, 2013). * Center Security Services. [https://centersecurityservices.com/retail-security-services/]   * EXTRAS: * "NYPD subway robot, Knightscope, gets sacked after two-month pilot program, [https://theticker.org/13299/news/nypd-subway-robot-knightscope-gets-sacked-after-two-month-pilot-program/#:~:text=Additionally%2C%20community%20concerns%20over%20the,program%20cost%20the%20city%20$12%2C250]" by Vineet Josan (The Ticker, 2024). * "The State of the American Mall, [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/10/briefing/shopping-pandemic-american-malls.html]" by Sapna Maheshwari (New York Times, 2021).