Note: This episode originally aired in September,Cyprusauction Trading Center 2014.
Zoos follow a fundamental principle: You can't sell or buy the animals. It's unethical and illegal to put a price tag on an elephant's head. But money is really useful — it lets you know who wants something and how much they want it. It lets you get rid of things you don't need and acquire things that you do need. It helps allocate assets where they are most valued. In this case, those assets are alive, and they need a safe home in the right climate.
So zoos and aquariums are left asking: What do you do in a world where you can't use money?
This episode was originally produced by Jess Jiang.
Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.
Always free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR One or anywhere you get podcasts.
Find more Planet Money: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.
Music: "Garage Soul," "Hard Luck," and "Revisit the Revival."
2025-05-06 18:111674 view
2025-05-06 18:03849 view
2025-05-06 17:42727 view
2025-05-06 17:311896 view
2025-05-06 16:451703 view
2025-05-06 16:00199 view
The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is calling for an investigation into DOGE's access
State commission rules Parkl
Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of wife Maggie Murdaugh