Critical Faculties

The hidden economy

Embedded in everything from cellphone bills to car-rental contracts, ''hidden fees" are hiding in plain sight. Two economists explain why they're likely to stay that way.

By Christopher Shea

June 25, 2006

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THE PRINTER: It's one of the most common peripherals in the computer age and so cheap-at first blush, anyway-that stores often give them away when you buy a PC. Yet how many people realize, when they walk out of CompUSA, a nice $99 inkjet model tucked under their arm, that it's likely they've just committed themselves to spending nearly $1,500 ... (Full article: 1256 words)