Why the Name of a Country Is Its Brand

Like corporations, countries engage in branding when they change their name or try to influence what the world thinks about them and their products.

Why New Coke is Back

An innovative disaster, the introduction of New Coke in 1985 generated so massive a protest that no one ever thought it could return…until now.

Ice Cream Economics

Whether it’s Ooey Gooey Butter Cake or Salted Crack Caramel, your flavor is a part of the ice cream economics of an ultra-premium creamery.

What the Grocery Store Says About Us

More than a place to buy food, the grocery store says a lot more about the affluence from our GDP and our subjective well-being.

A Dilemma: How Much to Pay for Our Privacy Protection

There is a doll whose name is Cayla. She has a pink skirt, a denim jacket, and a bluetooth connection. Like many toys, she can have a conversation with us. While these dolls are all Caylas, their manufacturer says you…

The Rise and Fall of the Subway Five Dollar Footlong

The Subway footlong might never have been a foot long. Six years ago, an Australian teenager posted on Facebook a picture of his 11-inch Subway Footlong. Feeling cheated (I guess), two New Jersey guys sued, others followed, and we wound…

Throwback Thursday: Remembering Standard Oil When We Look Forward to Amazon

#TBT: Today’s Throwback Thursday looks back to why Standard Oil was divided into 34 companies by the Supreme Court in 1911 and then forward to Amazon.

Doing a Fractal Zoom Into Our Yearly Pay

Depending on whether you look at national statistics or the numbers on a company basis, employee median pay can look very different.

The Market Value of a College Sports Program

In addition to March Madness brackets, we could have used a college sports program valuation to rank the market value of each team.

What Chuck E. Cheese Teaches Us About Money

When Chuck E. Cheese changed the kinds of payment cards that kids and their parents used for games and food, they created new spending incentives.