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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?

Green peppers are cheaper than their more colorful comrades. Here's why.
I've Always Wondered ...
Green peppers are cheaper than their more colorful comrades. Here's why.
Why do we no longer use $1,000 bills?
I've Always Wondered ...
Why do we no longer use $1,000 bills?
What do CEOs do all day long to deserve their pay?
I've Always Wondered ...
What do CEOs do all day long to deserve their pay?
How much money is there in the world?
I've Always Wondered ...
How much money is there in the world?

From This Collection

I've Always Wondered ...

I've always wondered: how mint flavoring became associated with clean teeth

by Mitchell Hartman
Sep 8, 2023
Listener Grant Cohoe says he's "not a fan of mint" and asks: "Why it is that mint is so ubiquitous in toothpaste, mouthwash and the like?"
Mint flavored toothpaste at the store. 
Mitchell Hartman/Marketplace
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do airlines set weird departure and arrival times?

by Janet Nguyen
Aug 25, 2023
Forget “the logic of the clock.” The airline is thinking about the airplane, not the customer, one expert told us.
Have an 8:02 a.m. flight to catch?
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why does Costco sell luxury items?

by Jana Kasperkevic
Aug 18, 2023
Everyone loves a good deal.
A worker pushes carts outside a Costco Wholesale store in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
Tim Boyle/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

You may be losing out on retirement money if you leave your job early 

by Janet Nguyen
Aug 11, 2023
Some employers will match your contributions to your retirement fund, but you may have to stay with them for years to access that money.
Some employer matching contributions come with strings attached.
pinkomelet/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Do landlords get tax credits for empty buildings? 

by Janet Nguyen
Aug 4, 2023
Some regions provide a form of tax relief, but under special circumstances, while others actually tax cities for commercial vacancies.
People walk past vacant stores at a mall in Miami, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Do corporations take advantage of inflation with a “profit-price spiral”? 

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 28, 2023
You might’ve heard of the “wage-price spiral.” Does a similar phenomenon exist when it comes to corporate profits?
As inflation has risen, experts have debated whether corporate greed is responsible.
MicroStockHub/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Should the rich pay more into the Social Security system?

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 21, 2023
As the rich get richer, their income is escaping taxation.
The percentage of total earnings in the country that doesn't face Social Security taxes rose from 10% in 1982 to 19% in 2021. 
iStock/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Liquid hand soap vs. body wash: What's the difference?

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 14, 2023
They’re made of the same chemical components, but the amounts vary to address different needs.
You can also use hand soap as body wash if you really wanted to.
Tradol Limyingcharoen/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why are Federal Reserve regional banks listed on U.S. currency? 

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 7, 2023
A seal or letter-number combo shows you which of the 12 regional banks issued them.
On $1 bills, you can see the Federal Reserve regional bank it came from the left-hand side. The above bill hails from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
NoDerog/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Does it make cents to get rid of the penny?

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 30, 2023
They clog our couches and streets, and they buy less than they cost to make. But they hold value for our national identity.
People treat the penny as if it's worthless, yet the currency continues to stand the test of time.
Max Zolotukhin/Getty Images
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