NPR

Secret Gyms And The Economics Of Prohibition

COVID-19 safeguards have created a black market for gyms.
People are working out in the shadows.

Editor's note: This is an excerpt of Planet Money's newsletter. You can sign up here.

My friend Evelyn is an immigration lawyer, and she recently had a meeting at a foreign consulate in downtown San Francisco. (Her work makes it hard for her to talk to reporters, so we're not using her last name). As she walked toward the building's metal detectors, the security guards told her she couldn't bring her backpack in, so she had to leave. She worried this would make her late, so she frantically began searching for a safe place to stash it. She walked down the street, and her eyes caught a gym storefront with one of those garage-style, roll-down metal doors. It was slightly

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
How Much Should I Spend On A Wedding Present? Life Kit's Tips Of The Month
Our April roundup of expert advice includes a nifty negotiation tactic, guidance on how to prevent digital eye strain and why you should travel during 'shoulder season.'
NPR2 min read
Military Families In Hawaii Spark Trial Over 2021 Jet Fuel Leak That Tainted Water
A trial for a mass environmental injury case begins in Hawaii on Monday, more than two years after a U.S. military facility poisoned thousands of people when it leaked jet fuel into drinking water.
NPR6 min read
8 Tracks: Beyond The Grave, Johnny Cash Still Shows Us How To Make Music
A new Johnny Cash song got NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich thinking about music released after a beloved artist dies. Check out "Well Alright," plus new music by Arooj Aftab and Tems on 8 Tracks.

Related Books & Audiobooks