Owen Rust

The Free-to-Play Game Economy: Selling Pixels for Billions

Today's gamers can make purchases within video games themselves, buying lives, equipment, appearance packages, etc. How much economic impact does this online market have, and should we be concerned about the potential for online gaming addiction?

The Economics of “Going Viral”: Attention as a Scarce Resource

They say that everyone wants to be famous. Today, virtually anyone can, thanks to social media. However, there are high costs of trying to master the algorithms to create the most desirable content. What are the economic costs and benefits of trying to "go viral" online?

Digital Hoarding: The Economics of Data Storage

Today, we generate tons of digital content that we want stored, potentially forever. As a result, companies spend big bucks to store terabytes (or even petabytes) of data in cloud storage centers. What are the costs of all this digital storage?

Climate Insurance and the Pricing of Risk in an Uncertain World

Recent years have seen some property insurance companies exit the market in coastal areas due to increased incidence of extreme weather. Will climate change cause severe disruptions in insurance markets in the coming years?

The Economics of Loneliness: Markets for Companionship

As AI companions become increasingly popular, serious questions are raised about the implications of "subscribing" to digital friendships. Should we be concerned about people entering AI relationships?

The Economics of Time Theft: Productivity, Surveillance, and Remote Work

Is it cost-effective for companies with lots of remote workers to actively monitor them through "bossware" that tracks their online activities? Research shows that some monitoring can boost productivity, but too much can cause workers to rebel.

The Shadow Cost of Free Returns: E-Commerce and the Reverse Logistics Crisis

Consumers love free returns, which are increasingly common in the online retail industry. But what are the hidden costs to society behind allowing consumers to return products and get all of their money back?

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and the Future of Banking

Rather than applying for a loan through a bank, you can automatically borrow cryptocurrency online by putting up an equal or greater amount of collateral. This is decentralized finance (DeFi), and is a growing part of the finance industry.

The Economics of Social Status: Why We Pay More for Less

Veblen goods are luxury goods that violate the Law of Demand, which states that quantity demanded of a good falls as price rises. Veblen goods actually become more popular as prices increase. Why is this the case? Can the purchase of such goods be reasonable?

The Creator Economy: Why Attention Is the New Currency

If you can garner thousands of followers on your social media platforms, you can get paid to promote products through affiliate marketing and influencing opportunities. Is this a sustainable market for young people?

AI and the Labor Market: Complement or Competitor?

Over the next five to ten years, many economists anxiously await the effects of AI expansion on labor markets. Which jobs are vulnerable to being mostly or entirely automated by AI? Which jobs will remain secure, using AI as a labor-saving tool?

Buy It Now, Pay Forever? The Economics of Subscription Overload

Many consumers purchase several subscription services and fail to properly budget for them, leading to broken budgets. How does "subscription overload" affect our budgeting and spending, and why do firms push subscription models so heavily?

Microtransactions and the Psychology of Spending

Psychology helps explain why consumers are likely to spend more money in total when they can make many small transactions instead of fewer large transactions. Why is this the case, and what can consumers do to limit overspending?

When Data Becomes Capital: The Economics of Digital Identity

Your behavior as a consumer is valuable, as it can help sellers generate more revenue. What are your rights and protections as a consumer in this era of rampant digital data collection? How far can companies go to learn about your behavior?

The Rise of Digital Nomad Visas: Talent Arbitrage in Real Time

Since the Covid pandemic and rise of widespread remote work, many nations have created digital nomad visas to attract foreign workers who bring in their foreign wages. But, what economic costs do local communities incur from hosting digital nomads?

The Microeconomics of Cloud Kitchens: Efficiency or Exploitation?

Cloud kitchens, also known as ghost kitchens, have no storefront and produce food entirely for either takeout or, most often, delivery apps. Are these rapidly proliferating operations good for economic competition, or exploitative?

Green Premiums and the Price of Ethical Consumption

Most consumers support, to some extent, green premiums to pay higher costs for ethically produced, environmentally friendly goods and energy. What are the economic benefits and challenges of ethical production, ethical consumption, and being "green"?

Streaming Fatigue and the Fragmentation of Digital Entertainment

Today, consumers can pick and choose among many digital entertainment streaming platforms. However, with rising costs and streaming fatigue, what is the future of this streaming entertainment market?

The Economics of Loyalty: Points, Perks, and Predictable Behavior

Why are customer loyalty programs so popular? Both sellers and buyers can benefit from well-designed loyalty programs, but both parties should also be aware of the potentials for manipulation and abuse.

Economic Geography and the Rise of Remote Work

The Covid pandemic of 2020-21 created a tremendous surge in remote work. Five years after the start of the pandemic, how has the remote work revolution changed our globe's economic geography? What are the policy implications of these changes?

The Resale Economy: From Fast Fashion to Circular Markets

Many young consumers are beginning to look at circular markets for gently used clothing instead of relying on mass-produced, disposable "fast fashion." What are the economic incentives behind using circular markets to buy secondhand goods?

The Subscription Boom: How Predictable Revenue Is Changing Consumer Markets

Many online companies have evolved from selling individual units of service to subscription models that allow subscribers access to a range of materials. Why has this evolved, and what are the benefits and drawbacks?

The Rise of Digital Scarcity: Economics of NFTs and Tokenized Assets

Between 2017 and 2021, people bought digital assets known as NFTs - nonfungible tokens - for outrageous prices. Why? And why do they not command such prices anymore? A look at the rise and fall of NFTs and tokenized assets.

AI in the Workforce: Substitution, Complementarity, and Wage Pressures

Over the next decade, many jobs will be significantly impacted by AI. Some will be automated out of existence, while others will be made easier and more lucrative due to productivity gains. Millions of workers anxiously await their personal results.

How Buy Now, Pay Later Is Changing Household Finance

Interest-free "buy now, pay later" services are growing in popularity, allowing consumers to break up expensive purchases into 4 or more monthly payments. Is BNPL a great tool for cash-strapped consumers, or a financial risk?