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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 ...

Do corporations take advantage of inflation with a “profit-price spiral”? 

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 28, 2023
You might’ve heard of the “wage-price spiral.” Does a similar phenomenon exist when it comes to corporate profits?
As inflation has risen, experts have debated whether corporate greed is responsible.
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I've Always Wondered ...

Should the rich pay more into the Social Security system?

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 21, 2023
As the rich get richer, their income is escaping taxation.
The percentage of total earnings in the country that doesn't face Social Security taxes rose from 10% in 1982 to 19% in 2021. 
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I've Always Wondered ...

Liquid hand soap vs. body wash: What's the difference?

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 14, 2023
They’re made of the same chemical components, but the amounts vary to address different needs.
You can also use hand soap as body wash if you really wanted to.
Tradol Limyingcharoen/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why are Federal Reserve regional banks listed on U.S. currency? 

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 7, 2023
A seal or letter-number combo shows you which of the 12 regional banks issued them.
On $1 bills, you can see the Federal Reserve regional bank it came from the left-hand side. The above bill hails from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
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I've Always Wondered ...

Does it make cents to get rid of the penny?

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 30, 2023
They clog our couches and streets, and they buy less than they cost to make. But they hold value for our national identity.
People treat the penny as if it's worthless, yet the currency continues to stand the test of time.
Max Zolotukhin/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why are bananas so cheap?

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 23, 2023
They’re less expensive than other grocery staples, including tomatoes. But they were once considered a luxury item, like caviar.
Bananas are one of the cheapest items at the grocery store, but they used to be considered a delicacy.
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

When should a bank be considered "too big to fail"?

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 16, 2023
A key oversight threshold was lower under the original Dodd-Frank Act. When the rules were relaxed, experts say the risks may have increased.
A customer stands outside Silicon Valley Bank's shuttered headquarters in March. Under the original Dodd-Frank Act, the bank would have been subject to stronger oversight.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why does college tuition have so many extra fees?

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 9, 2023
Student services. Building construction. Athletics. Additional fees add up, leaving families confused about where their payments are going.
When Ronald Regan was governor of California, he slashed funding for the University of California system, a harbinger of a decline in state funding for higher education. Above, Royce Hall at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Just how safe are credit unions?

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 2, 2023
They have been known to fail, but generally they take less risk with their money than banks. Experts say make sure your deposits are insured.
Both credit unions and banks are generally safe, but credit unions may take less risk with the money you've deposited.
sshepard/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Who does the U.S. owe $31.4 trillion?

by Janet Nguyen
May 26, 2023
Our creditors range from private investors to foreign governments. Some seek to align the debt limit with the budgeting process.
The debt limit is the amount of money the Treasury can borrow to meet its obligations. The deadline for Congress to lift the limit, lest the U.S. default, is quickly approaching.
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