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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?

Are too many commercials bad for a company?
I've Always Wondered ...
Are too many commercials bad for a company?
Why aren’t all gas tanks on the same side of the car? 
I've Always Wondered ...
Why aren’t all gas tanks on the same side of the car? 
Who does the U.S. owe $31.4 trillion?
I've Always Wondered ...
Who does the U.S. owe $31.4 trillion?
Why are bananas so cheap?
I've Always Wondered ...
Why are bananas so cheap?

From This Collection

I've Always Wondered ...

Why you might find two Louis Vuitton stores on the same block

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 7, 2024
Luxury loves company. Two stores from the exact same fashion house might sit within a small radius.
Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

How large is the shadow economy?

by Janet Nguyen
May 31, 2024
Trillions of dollars worth of business goes unreported in this economy — street vending, farm labor, babysitting and more. Let’s do the numbers.
Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do Americans tip when people in other countries don’t have to?

by Janet Nguyen
May 24, 2024
One expert credits America’s strong tip culture with weaker unions.
"We’re kind of the tip-happiest country out there," one expert told us.
vinnstock/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

What should you do if your Social Security number is stolen?

by Janet Nguyen
May 10, 2024
Freeze your credit, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or use free, online resources, experts say.
Make sure you consistently review your financial statements to spot fraudulent activity.
Sean Anthony Eddy/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why does my electric company need to advertise?

by Janet Nguyen
May 3, 2024
Sometimes it's for public service announcements, sometimes it's for public relations after a scandal. Either way, some states are cracking down.
Utilities advertise to sell products, make public service announcements, and improve their image.
George Rose/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why charging your laptop is getting easier 

by Janet Nguyen
Apr 19, 2024
The USB-C connector has become a standard across laptops and phones.
The USB-C cable makes it easier to charge across different devices.
Cronislaw/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do airlines still use dot matrix printers?

by Janet Nguyen
Apr 12, 2024
“I'm so tired of those damn things,” one airline crew member told us.
The dot matrix printer cannot be defeated, at least in some respects.
SkillGt/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

The origins of the IRS logo

by Janet Nguyen
Apr 5, 2024
For $197,000, in today’s dollars, a design firm revamped IRS tax forms in the ‘60s. That included the creation of a new symbol representing an eagle.
It can be hard to make out the IRS symbol, which depicts an eagle.
LPETTET/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

How much money do religious leaders make? 

by Janet Nguyen
Mar 29, 2024
The average salary is about $60,000, but pay can vary widely, just like in other fields.
tzahiV/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Is there a chance your key could work on another house? 

by Janet Nguyen
Mar 22, 2024
There’s a chance – albeit very small – you have the same key as someone else out there in the world.
No key is truly unique.
akinshin/Getty Images Plus
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