#TBT: Today’s Google is the result of 270 acquisitions. Let’s look back at what it (and others like it) used to be and then forward to what we have now. Google’s Growth Spurts During…
What a Supermarket Thinks About the Census
Spending decisions from national, state and local government, and private businesses, will depend on accurate data from the 2020 decennial census.…
The Five Stars We Don’t Deserve
Uber just announced that if you or I get a low rating from a driver, it could have dire consequences. When a rider violates Uber’s community guidelines, that person “may lose access.”…
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.…
The Surprising “Green” Side of the SUV
Based on a recent study, calculating the amount of air pollution we can blame on SUV emissions has just become a bit trickier.…
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.…
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…
Food Fights Over Cauliflower, Meat, and Milk
The farmers who produce rice, milk, and meat have sought to ban the food labels used by cauliflower rice, almond milk, and plant-based meat makers.…
The Secret Reason We Want Our Thin Mints
Totally ignoring their taste, an economist would have a surprising reason that explains why we love our Girl Scout Cookies.…