The junkyard economist

Have you ever walked around a street, mall, or airport and noticed two or three of the same franchise restaurant within walking distance? Why might one Starbucks or McDonald’s or Wetzel’s Pretzels sometimes be built so close to another? Are they friends or competitors? And how ca ...  Show more

99% of chemicals in our food right now were added without FDA approval. Many were added in secret, through a sneaky loophole built into the 1958 Food Additives Amendment.It was supposed to require FDA approval for new additives. But food companies and chemical makers found a work ...  Show more

Kelsey has just returned from Machu Picchu, and guess what, she's ready to talk about the Inca. Join Kelsey as she delves into part one of two on the mighty Incan Empire. Then, what's sexier than ancient civilization? Why, waste management! This week, Mike Amico dives deep and gi ...  Show more

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: AI shuts out youth from the grind, China leaves U.S. soybeans behind, Gap has the then-and-now in marketing mind. Related episodes: AI creates, trans ...  Show more

Jeff Bezos is getting married in Venice… but did ya know Venice was the Amazon of the Old World?Nike is pinning its turnaround on a snoafer (a sneaker/loafer)… it’s not a throwback, it’s a flowforward.NYC democrats just nominated a socialist mayoral candidate… because Wall Street ...  Show more

Mike Sinyard helped put mountain biking on the map. In the 1970’s, he founded Specialized Bicycle Components to do exactly what the name suggests: sell high-quality bike parts. He eventually decided to make his own models, becoming a pioneer in the industry by designing the fi ...