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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 do tables only get one drink menu?

by Janet Nguyen
Mar 15, 2024
Too many menus on the table can overwhelm guests.
When it comes to restaurant menus, sometimes simpler is better.
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I've Always Wondered ...

Stars invest in their red carpet look with a loan from a jeweler

by Janet Nguyen
Mar 8, 2024
A stylist joined Marketplace to explain how actresses arrange to wear dazzling accessories during awards season. And yes, security is involved.
Julianne Moore wears a Cartier necklace at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards. Stylists work behind the scenes to arrange jewelry loans, explained Kate Young, a Hollywood stylist who worked with Moore to put this look together.
Gilbert Flores/Golden Globes 2024
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why aren’t all gas tanks on the same side of the car? 

by Janet Nguyen
Mar 1, 2024
Consumer preference and safety concerns are just two of the factors that go into determining where the fuel filler is located.
Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do airplanes have ashtrays on board if smoking is banned? 

by Janet Nguyen
Feb 23, 2024
In 2000, Bill Clinton signed a law that banned smoking on all domestic and international flights to and from the U.S.
While airline ashtrays may seem antiquated, the FAA thinks it's better to be safe than sorry.
actual_size/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Not playing at a theater near you: Why are some movies so hard to find? 

by Janet Nguyen
Feb 16, 2024
It comes down to how much money the theaters think they’re going to earn.
If a movie doesn't show up at the theater, it's because the theater doesn't think it will make money, one filmmaker told us.
batuhan toker/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Are too many commercials bad for a company?

by Janet Nguyen
Feb 9, 2024
It turns out any annoyance we have toward a commercial eventually goes away.
Repetitive advertising is a necessary evil for a lot of companies.
gpointstudio/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

How are companies like GoodRx able to provide drug discounts?

by Janet Nguyen
Feb 2, 2024
Discount card companies negotiate directly with pharmacies or pharmacy benefit managers, the powerful brokers that control drug prices.
A majority of Americans say that prescription drug costs are unreasonable, according to a KFF poll.
George Frey/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do so many women drive Ford Mustangs?

by Janet Nguyen
Jan 26, 2024
The famed car model has a classic style, an affordable price and was marketed to women from the beginning.
Many women gravitate toward the Mustang, which Ford marketed to female customers in the car's early days.
Daviles/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

What would happen if we could choose where our taxes go?

by Janet Nguyen
Jan 19, 2024
Most Americans would likely prioritize social insurance, according to one survey.
Social insurance and education are some of the most popular areas of spending people would want their tax dollars to go toward.
sasirin pamai/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why are bagels sold at the grocery store only partially sliced? 

by Janet Nguyen
Jan 12, 2024
It keeps the bagel intact and ensures that it stays fresh.
If you're a bagel-shop owner based in New York, the question of whether to slice or not to slice is a complicated one.
chandlerphoto/Getty Images
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