A cheeseburger at McDonald’s is 99 cents. A double cheeseburger is…100 cents. I can’t figure out how this is economically advantageous for McDonald’s, and nor are any of my friend’s explanations proving persuasive. Current theses:

  1. They’re not undercharging for double cheeseburgers, they’re overcharging for single cheeseburgers. They make their profit off folks who don’t notice the double.
  2. People like feeling like they’re getting a deal. This makes them feel that way.
  3. It’s some sort of promotion.
  4. The marginal cost of producing the extra patty is so minor that a penny is actually a huge profit.
  5. I should stop thinking so much about fast food pricing schemes, particularly since I eat very little fast food.

Any better ideas?

Ezra Klein is a former Prospect writer and current editor-in-chief at Vox. His work has appeared in the LA Times, The Guardian, The Washington Monthly, The New Republic, Slate, and The Columbia Journalism Review. He’s been a commentator on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and more.