The Economics of Everyday Things

When a zoo needs an elephant, or finds itself with three surplus penguins, it doesn’t buy or sell the animals — it asks around. Zachary Crockett rattles the cages.   * SOURCES: * Hollie Colahan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollie-colahan/], deputy director of the Birmingham Zoo and chair of the AZA's Animal Population Management Committee. * Dwight Lawson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-dwight-lawson-4b232a12/], executive director and C.E.O. of the Oklahoma City Zoo.   * RESOURCES: * "Oklahoma City Zoo Announces Near-Total Redesign in 2024 Master Plan [https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/local/2024/06/14/okc-zoo-redesign-new-species-penguines/74073366007/]," by Sam Royka (The Oklahoman, 2024). * "Panda Diplomacy: What China’s Decision to Send Bears to the US Reveals About Its Economy [https://theconversation.com/panda-diplomacy-what-chinas-decision-to-send-bears-to-the-us-reveals-about-its-economy-224295]," by Chee Meng Tan (The Conversation, 2024). * "Oklahoma City Zoological Trust Financial Statements [https://www.sai.ok.gov/olps/uploads/zoo_final_2023_nrus.pdf]," (2023). * "Modern Zoos Are Not Worth the Moral Cost [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html]," by Emma Marris (The New York Times, 2021). * "The Tiger King of the 19th Century [https://slate.com/culture/2020/04/tiger-king-19th-century-private-zoos-carl-hagenbeck.html?pay=1729886821629]," by Betsy Golden Kellem (Slate, 2020). * Animal Population Management Committee of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums [https://www.aza.org/animal-population-management-committee].

Tow-truck drivers: roadside rescuers or car confiscators? Zachary Crockett gets hooked.   * SOURCES: * Bill Giorgis [https://towsummit.com/bill-giorgis/], president of Mike’s Wrecker Service. * Max Karimi [https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/pensacola/profile/towing-company/hm-roadside-llc-0683-90071868], co-owner of H&M Roadside. * Teresa Murray [https://pirg.org/people/teresa-murray/], director of the Consumer Watchdog Program at U.S. Public Interest Research Group.   * RESOURCES: * "Getting Off the Hook of a Predatory Tow - Part II [https://publicinterestnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/FRI-716AM-TOWING-FULL-REPORT.pdf]," by Jacob van Cleef and Teresa Murray (U.S. PIRG Education Fund, 2022). * "Getting Off the Hook of a Predatory Tow [https://pirg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Getting-off-the-Hook-of-a-Predatory-Tow_0.pdf]," by Grace Brombach (U.S. PIRG Education Fund, 2021). * "Beware of Car Towing Companies That Patrol Private Parking Lots [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/your-money/car-tow-companies-fees.html]," by Ann Carrns (The New York Times, 2021). * "After a Wave of Injuries, Tow Truck Drivers Want Us All to Slow Down [https://www.opb.org/article/2021/06/16/tow-truck-drivers-deaths-injuries-risks/]," by Kristian Foden-Vencil (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2021). * "AAA’s Grip Forcing West Coast Tow Companies Out of Business, Owners Say [https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/05/15/aaas-grip-forcing-west-coast-tow-companies-out-of-business-owners-say/]," by Annie Sciacca (East Bay Times, 2016). * r/Hookit [https://www.reddit.com/r/Hookit/].

Why are these 300-year-old instruments still coveted by violinists today? And how do working musicians get their hands on multimillion-dollar antiques? Zachary Crockett is not fiddling around.   * SOURCES: * Frank Almond [https://frankalmond.com/bio/], professional violinist. * Ziv Arazi [https://www.rareviolins.com/team/ziv-arazi], co-owner of Rare Violins of New York. * Bruno Price [https://www.rareviolins.com/team/bruno-price], co-owner of Rare Violins of New York.   * RESOURCES: * "When It Comes to String Instruments, Stradivariuses Are Still Pitch Perfect [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/string-instruments-stradivariuses-still-pitch-perfect-180981015/]," by Ted Scheinman (Smithsonian Magazine, 2022). * "Study Confirms Superior Sound of Stradivari Is Due to How Wood Was Treated [https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/09/study-confirms-superior-sound-of-a-stradivari-is-due-to-the-varnish/]," by Jennifer Ouellette (Ars Technica, 2021). * "The Case of the Stolen Stradivarius [https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/the-case-of-the-stolen-stradivarius]," (FBI News, 2015). * "A High-Strung Market [https://www.economist.com/prospero/2013/12/02/a-high-strung-market]," by E. H. B. (The Economist, 2013). * "Violins For Music — And Investment Returns [https://www.fa-mag.com/news/investing-in-violins-13711.html]," by Michael S. Fischer (Financial Advisor, 2013). * "Stradivarius Fetches Record $16 Million in Charity Sale [https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/stradivarius-fetches-record-16-million-in-charity-sale-idUSTRE75J7DJ/]," (Reuters, 2011).   * EXTRA: * A Violin's Life [https://aviolinslife.org/], album series by Frank Almond (2013).

Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down.   * SOURCES: * "Ben," former professional card counter. * Bill Zender [https://billzender.com/about-us/#team], co-founder of Bill Zender and Associates casino consulting firm.   * RESOURCES: * "Blackjack Player Sues Ameristar Casino, City of Black Hawk Over Alleged Detainment for Card Counting [https://www.denverpost.com/2023/08/09/ameristar-casino-black-hawk-blackjack-card-counting-lawsuit/]," by Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton (The Denver Post, 2023). * "Why Does the House Always Win? A Look at Casino Profitability [https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/110415/why-does-house-always-win-look-casino-profitability.asp]," by J. B. Maverick (Investopedia, 2023). * "Counting the Cost [https://ggbnews.com/article/counting-the-cost/]," by Bill Zender (GGB News, 2022). * "Nevada Supreme Court Orders Casino To Pay Card Counter [https://www.gamblingandthelaw.com/column/nevada-supreme-court-orders-casino-to-pay-card-counter/]," by I. Nelson Rose (Gambling and the Law, 2017). * "Counting Cards Is Legal, But ... [https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/nightlife/2016/04/05/mark-pilarski-casinos-counting-cards/82538428/]" by Mark Pilarski (Detroit Free Press, 2016). * "Card Counter Sues Planet Hollywood Over Detention, Confiscated Casino Chips [https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/card-counter-sues-planet-hollywood-over-detention-confiscated-casino-chips/]," by Carri Geer Thevenot (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2015). * "Real People Behind Story of '21' Discuss Film's Facts [https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2008/03/31/real-people-behind-story-21/48455421007/]," by Ed Symkus (The State Journal-Register, 2008). * Blackbelt in Blackjack: Playing 21 as a Martial Art [https://amzn.to/3RU5JZx], by Arnold Snyder (1997).   * EXTRAS: * "How to Make Your Own Luck [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/how-to-make-your-own-luck-ep-424/]," by Freakonomics Radio (2020). * "The Economics of Sports Gambling (Replay) [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-economics-of-sports-gambling-ep-388-rebroadcast/]," by Freakonomics Radio (2020). * "Could the Next Brooklyn Be … Las Vegas?! [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/playback-2015-could-the-next-brooklyn-be-las-vegas-ep-205/]" by Freakonomics Radio (2015). * 21 [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478087/], film by Robert Luketic (2008).

Making money in the stock image business requires a sharp eye for trends, a very specific type of model, and a race against A.I. Zachary Crockett takes his shot.   * SOURCE: * Yuri Arcurs [http://arcurs.com/], C.E.O. and founder of PeopleImages.   * RESOURCES: * "The Last Stock Photographers Await Their Fate Under Generative A.I. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-last-stock-photographers-await-their-fate-under-generative-ai-822d1e6a]," by Katie Deighton (The Wall Street Journal, 2024). * "The Impressive 100-Year History of Stock Photography: From Analog to A.I. [https://www.stockphotosecrets.com/stock-agency-insights/history-of-stock-photography.html]," by Ivanna Attié (Stock Photo Secrets, 2024). * "How Much Can You Make Selling Stock Photos? — It’s Not as Profitable as it Used to Be [https://photutorial.com/how-much-can-you-make-selling-stock-photos/]," by Matic Broz (Photutorial, 2024). * "Confessions of a Stock Photography Model [https://www.vox.com/2016/6/3/11841828/stock-photography-model]," by Andrew Kimler (Vox, 2016).