The Economics of Everyday Things

Pure maple syrup can be five times as expensive as “pancake syrup,” but maple farmers — and breakfast connoisseurs — say it’s worth it. Zachary Crockett pours it on thick.   * SOURCES: * Emma Marvin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-marvin-49226317/], co-C.E.O. of Butternut Mountain Farm. * David Marvin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-marvin-8a798913/], founder of Butternut Mountain Farm.   * RESOURCES: * "Crop Production [https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/tm70mv177/m900qr657/rr173t99g/crop0625.pdf]," by National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA, 2025). * "Why Americans Overwhelmingly Prefer Fake Maple Syrup [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/03/27/why-americans-overwhelmingly-prefer-fake-maple-syrup/]," by Christopher Ingraham (The Washington Post, 2015). * "History of Maple [https://libraries.uvm.edu/c.php?g=290518&p=1936100]," (UVM Libraries). * Butternut Mountain Farm [https://butternutmountainfarm.com/].

Why did it take so long to invent a longer-lasting bulb? Zachary Crockett finds the answer illuminating.   * SOURCES: * Heather Dillon [https://directory.tacoma.uw.edu/employee/hedillon], mechanical engineering professor at the University of Washington in Tacoma. * Jane Brox [https://janebrox.com/brilliant/], author of the 2010 book Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light. * Markus Krajewski [https://medienwissenschaft.philhist.unibas.ch/en/persons/markus-krajewski/], philosopher and historian of technology at the University of Basel in Switzerland.   * RESOURCES: * "Thomas Edison, tinkerer [https://worksinprogress.co/issue/thomas-edison-tinkerer/]," by Eric Gilliam (Works in Progress, 2023). * "It's Official: Stores Can No Longer Sell Most Incandescent Lights [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/climate/incandescent-light-bulb-ban-leds.html]," by Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times, 2023). * "The Mystery of the Centennial Bulb: an Incandescent Light Bulb [https://www.centennialbulb.org/docs/centennial%20bulb%20report.pdf]," by Martin Kykta (MAK Electro-Optics, 2021). * "The Great Lightbulb Conspiracy [https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-great-lightbulb-conspiracy]," by Markus Krajewski (IEEE Spectrum, 2014). * "Compact Fluorescent Lighting in America: Lessons Learned on the Way to Market [https://www.energy.gov/eere/ssl/articles/compact-fluorescent-lighting-america-lessons-learned-way-market]," by L.J. Sandahl, T.L. Gilbride, M.R. Ledbetter, H.E. Steward, and C. Calwell (U.S. Department of Energy, 2006).   * EXTRAS: * "Why Do Candles Still Exist? [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-do-candles-still-exist/]" by Freakonomics Radio (2025). * "The Story of Byron the Bulb [https://www.tildedave.com/byron.html]," by Thomas Pynchon (Gravity's Rainbow, 1973).

How do courts interpret those little icons on your phone? Zachary Crockett brings down the hammer.   * SOURCES: * Eric Goldman [https://www.ericgoldman.org/], professor of law, associate dean for research, co-director at the High Tech Law Institute at the Santa Clara University School of Law.   * RESOURCES: * "Canadian Court Rules 👍 Emoji Counts as a Contract Agreement [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/07/world/canada/canada-thumbs-up-emoji-contract.html]," by Michael Levenson (New York Times, 2023). * "Former Bed Bath & Beyond investor Ryan Cohen must face emoji-inspired shareholder suit [https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/ryan-cohen-bed-bath-beyond-investor-emoji-lawsuit-rcna97379]," by Rob Wile (NBC News, 2023). * "My Declaration Identifying Emoji Co. GmbH as a Possible Trademark Troll [https://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2021/09/my-declaration-identifying-emoji-co-gmbh-as-a-possible-trademark-troll.htm]," by Eric Goldman (Technology & Marketing Blog, 2021). * "Bardales v. Lamothe [https://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3068&context=historical]," by Middle District of Tennessee (2019). * "Emojis and the Law [https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5033&context=wlr]," by Eric Goldman (Washington Law Review, 2018).   * EXTRAS: * OpenMoji FAQ [https://openmoji.org/faq/].

How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain.   * SOURCES: * Meredith Baer [https://meridithbaer.com/our-story/], founder of Meridith Baer Home. * Cindy Lin [https://www.staged4more.com/about], founder and lead instructor at Staged4more School of Home Staging. * Karen Prince [https://secretsofhomestaging.com/about-karen-prince/], author and home staging consultant.   * RESOURCES: * "How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Real Estate Game [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/ai-real-estate-1.6814123]," by Kate Dubinski (C.B.C. News, 2023). * "Will Virtual Staging Replace Traditionally Staged Rooms? [https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/home-and-design/will-virtual-staging-replace-traditionally-staged-rooms]" by Barbara Ballinger (Realtor Magazine, 2022). * "Open Houses and Sticky Fingers [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/20/realestate/open-houses-stealing-theft.html]," by Alix Strauss (The New York Times, 2022). * "Profile of Home Staging [https://cdn.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2021-profile-of-home-staging-report-04-06-2021.pdf]," by the National Association of Realtors Research Group (2021). * Secrets of Home Staging: The Essential Guide to Getting Higher Offers Faster [https://amzn.to/3Y7Zh2q], by Karen Prince (2021). * "How Meridith Baer Runs Her $100 Million Home Staging Business [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennawang/2019/07/30/how-meredith-baer-runs-her-100-million-home-staging-business/?sh=2abc47504300]," by Jenna Wang (Forbes, 2019). * "Designer Meridith Baer’s Home-Staging Empire Began With a Plant Storage Dilemma [https://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hp-meridith-baer-designer-20190302-story.html]," by Arielle Paul (Los Angeles Times, 2019). * "The Twilight Zone of Home Staging [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/11/fashion/real-estate-home-staging-buyers-clutter.html]," by Peter Haldeman (The New York Times, 2016). * "The Story Seller [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/magazine/25Key-Stager-t.html]," by Mark Oppenheimer (The New York Times Magazine, 2009). * Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money [https://amzn.to/3q48HiP], by Barb Schwarz (2006).

They expose fraud, catch cheating spouses, and track down missing assets — but they don’t come cheap. Zachary Crockett takes the case.   * SOURCES: * Ashley Wardlow [https://nathans-investigations.com/meet-our-leadership-miami-private-investigators/], chief operating officer at Nathans Investigations.   * RESOURCES: * "Eugène-François Vidocq and the Birth of the Detective [https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/eugene-francois-vidocq-and-the-birth-of-the-detective/]," by Daisy Sainsbury (The Public Domain Review, 2024). * "The Pinkerton Story - Chapter 1 [https://www.thepinkertonfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/04-Pinkerton_Story_Chapter-1.pdf]," (The Pinkerton Foundation, 2017). * "Expectation of Privacy [https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/expectation_of_privacy]," (Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute). * "Evidence & Private Investigators [https://www.claydugas.com/legal-process/evidence-private-investigators/]," (Dugas Law Firm).   * EXTRAS: * "Private Investigation Equipment [https://www.detective-store.com/] (Detective Store)."