The Hidden Economics
Prices, interest rates, insurance, taxes and maintenance all landed on the same household budget. This documentary follows each cost to its source — and asks who benefits when housing gets more expensive.
A different way to look at the story
The Hidden Economics
Ordinary life. Extraordinary economics.
The surprising systems behind the prices, products and decisions that shape everyday American life. Ordinary experiences make extraordinary economic stories.
Everyday prices · Housing · Consumer choices
Explore the channel
Explore the stories
The Hidden Economics
Credit cards, car loans, student loans, mortgages. We look at how household debt works as a business — who lends, who profits, and why borrowing has become a normal part of American life.
The Hidden Economics
Big-ticket upgrades are often sold on savings and resale value. We look at how to test those promises with simple arithmetic before signing a contract.
More from The American Money Trap
The newsletter · Free
The Money Trap Briefing.
The story behind the story, in your inbox.
New investigations, surprising business models and primary sources worth your time. Our free briefing is in preparation; join the list for future editions.
The American Money Trap
The Money Trap Briefing.
- 1
The lead investigation
The new documentary, in five minutes of reading.
- 2
Follow the money
One business model, explained plainly.
- 3
From the edit room
What we're researching next, and why.
- 4
Further reading
The primary sources behind the story.