You're listening to Imaginary Worlds, a show about how we create them and why we suspend

our disbelief.

I'm Eric Mollinsky.

So sometimes listeners will send me ideas for episodes, which is great because I mean,

I've taken a few of them and even if I don't, I really like knowing what people are into,

what's interesting out there.

And recently, a few people suggested that I look into the economics of Imaginary Worlds,

and one of them was an economist, Matthew Hollow, who's a professor at the University

of York.

I just got a notice that you had made on that.

I thought that might be the kind of thing that would, you know, be relevant.

He says whenever economists predict the future, or a Korean economic model, they're basically

dabbling in science fiction.

In fact, he thinks they should read more science fiction.

You know, people often criticize those involved in economics, exactly, because they don't

know.

You know, you kind of think about how these economic systems or shifts will actually affect

how people live.

Economists and fantasy writers are often asking the same questions, like how would the world

be different if we changed one or two factors?

I sort of accidentally learned a lot of economics by drinking with economists, which is a great

way to learn economics.

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