Teddy Siegel

This is John Cochran. He's got a blog called The Grumpy Economist. And he once wrote a post about how when the pay toilets went away, so did the public toilets.

This is John Cochran. He's got a blog called The Grumpy Economist. And he once wrote a post about how when the pay toilets went away, so did the public toilets.

This is John Cochran. He's got a blog called The Grumpy Economist. And he once wrote a post about how when the pay toilets went away, so did the public toilets.

Without that incentive, Nikolak was right. The free public toilets were overrun with people who had to go. Or people abusing drugs or having sex. Cities were changing. In lots of places, they struggled to fund and maintain public places. With no income from the toilets, taking care of them was harder than ever. Cities couldn't deal. Eventually, they closed them or let them fall into disrepair.

Without that incentive, Nikolak was right. The free public toilets were overrun with people who had to go. Or people abusing drugs or having sex. Cities were changing. In lots of places, they struggled to fund and maintain public places. With no income from the toilets, taking care of them was harder than ever. Cities couldn't deal. Eventually, they closed them or let them fall into disrepair.

Without that incentive, Nikolak was right. The free public toilets were overrun with people who had to go. Or people abusing drugs or having sex. Cities were changing. In lots of places, they struggled to fund and maintain public places. With no income from the toilets, taking care of them was harder than ever. Cities couldn't deal. Eventually, they closed them or let them fall into disrepair.

The pay toilets may have been flawed, but they served a purpose that no public or private entity has been able to effectively fill since. John says... This is a classic tale of a price control. When the government imposes a price.

The pay toilets may have been flawed, but they served a purpose that no public or private entity has been able to effectively fill since. John says... This is a classic tale of a price control. When the government imposes a price.

The pay toilets may have been flawed, but they served a purpose that no public or private entity has been able to effectively fill since. John says... This is a classic tale of a price control. When the government imposes a price.

This is a price control, I suppose, but they just got rid of all prices. Price control at zero. The price control at zero is exactly what Michael Gessel wanted when he started his fight a half a century ago. When the pay toilets started going away, what did you think would fill in that void?

This is a price control, I suppose, but they just got rid of all prices. Price control at zero. The price control at zero is exactly what Michael Gessel wanted when he started his fight a half a century ago. When the pay toilets started going away, what did you think would fill in that void?

This is a price control, I suppose, but they just got rid of all prices. Price control at zero. The price control at zero is exactly what Michael Gessel wanted when he started his fight a half a century ago. When the pay toilets started going away, what did you think would fill in that void?

Over the years, Michael has read critiques that blame his movement for the decline of toilets, even the decline of cities. Do you have any regrets?

Over the years, Michael has read critiques that blame his movement for the decline of toilets, even the decline of cities. Do you have any regrets?

Over the years, Michael has read critiques that blame his movement for the decline of toilets, even the decline of cities. Do you have any regrets?

So who should be in charge of toilets? And we find our way to a modern version of a good old-fashioned pay toilet. That's after the break. Rick Weinmeier is a public health law professor at Loyola University in Chicago. And because he studies toilets, his friends are constantly sending him photos of the most delightful and the most disgusting stalls around the world.

So who should be in charge of toilets? And we find our way to a modern version of a good old-fashioned pay toilet. That's after the break. Rick Weinmeier is a public health law professor at Loyola University in Chicago. And because he studies toilets, his friends are constantly sending him photos of the most delightful and the most disgusting stalls around the world.

So who should be in charge of toilets? And we find our way to a modern version of a good old-fashioned pay toilet. That's after the break. Rick Weinmeier is a public health law professor at Loyola University in Chicago. And because he studies toilets, his friends are constantly sending him photos of the most delightful and the most disgusting stalls around the world.

A public good. In economics, a public good is something that everyone can benefit from. And very importantly, one person benefiting from it doesn't stop another person from benefiting from it as well. Think clean air or lighthouses. Governments typically decide what to treat like a public good. And Rick says he would put public toilets on that list.

A public good. In economics, a public good is something that everyone can benefit from. And very importantly, one person benefiting from it doesn't stop another person from benefiting from it as well. Think clean air or lighthouses. Governments typically decide what to treat like a public good. And Rick says he would put public toilets on that list.