Many years ago I read an essay that was pretty critical of the way so much fantasy fiction could not build believable societies with plausible economic underpinnings. The author was fairly concise and snarky, arguing that (I'm paraphrasing here) she could suspend disbelief about dragons and magic, but that she couldn't slog her way through a book where not the least bit of thought had been given to how all these characters and their associates could make a living, grow or acquire food, and otherwise acquire money and engage in trade. I
think it was an essay by Joanna Russ in Fantasy & Science Fiction in the 70s, when she had a regular book review column there, but I could be conflating like mad.
posted by maudlin
on May 7, 2013 -
6 answers
If a bucket of bolts (BOB) costs $10 today and $23 a month later, is the BOB worth more or is money worth less? How do I know when money is worth less or more, or the thing it's buying is worth more or less. Or am I saying the same thing?
Arghhhh.
Please be gentle.
posted by larry_darrell
on Feb 4, 2013 -
11 answers
I read
this article and I'm fascinated by the effects of current events on how money moves through the world and how money seems to affect other money. I've found a new interest! But, I don't even know what it's called! How can I study this?
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posted by windykites
on Nov 8, 2012 -
8 answers
The gold-coin contents of the cliche' pirate/dungeon treasure chest, how much would that be worth today? Assume a stereotypical treasure chest, knee high to an adult, filled with gold escudos in excellent condition. How much would the chest and contents sell for? Could you sell it?
posted by The Whelk
on Aug 10, 2012 -
9 answers
Way too many people in my life, including my wife and I, are well-educated but have no innate grasp of economics. How did you learn about all things money (microeconomics, macroeconomics, finance) in a way that stuck?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 6, 2011 -
33 answers
If the American and world economy truly implodes, where is the safest place to have one's money and why?
posted by mintchip
on Jul 6, 2011 -
19 answers
Reading about the current fiscal hullaballo, the idea of "Modern Monetary Theory" keeps popping up. I get the basic gist of it but I was hoping to learn more.
Will you explain Modern Monetary Theory, aka Neo-Chartalism, to me? [more inside]
posted by daniel striped tiger
on Feb 20, 2011 -
8 answers
Why doesn't the law of supply and demand seem to apply to certain professionals? For instance, there seems to be an abundance of lawyers. I've never met a lawyer who was too busy and had to turn down work. Yet they all seem to charge $250-500 or more an hour. I've also looked for programmers and designers. It's extremely difficult to find anyone good, and when you do, they're almost always too busy to take any additional work. Yet they still charge much less than lawyers. What factors are causing this?
posted by lsemel
on May 11, 2010 -
33 answers
As a former scientist, help me gain some faith in economics. What were the great successes of economics as a tool for making better decisions in the last 100 years?
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posted by zaebiz
on Jun 23, 2009 -
20 answers
[MonetaryPolicyFilter] In relation to the Fed's huge injection of money yesterday, please explain to me how, if at all, the Federal Reserve can
destroy money on its balance sheet in a way that offsets the inflation that normally would result.
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posted by Pastabagel
on Mar 19, 2009 -
16 answers
First let me say I'am ignorant when it comes to economics, but I'd like to have a better understand of it. With that in mind
this clip makes sense to me but I also understand it flys in the face of everything held to be sensible about modern economics. Help me understand. Thanks.
posted by nola
on Feb 19, 2009 -
8 answers
With all the bickering over taxes in the election campaign, I'm trying to get a broader picture of US income tax history, theories behind past policies, and analysis of how they worked (in idiot friendly language).
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posted by p3t3
on Oct 17, 2008 -
4 answers
Anybody have experience in investing in virtual world banks/businesses/markets (such as those in SecondLife.com etc)? Do they provide a serious way of making a sensible risk/reward on five or six figure investments?
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posted by vizsla
on Aug 12, 2008 -
22 answers
Bill Hicks said, in one of his acts, and I quote "It's gonna fuck up the economy... the economy thats fake anyway!" Is the economy fake?
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posted by Effigy2000
on Feb 2, 2008 -
27 answers
(Possibly Advanced) Economics Filter:
How does new value created by industry and economy become money?
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posted by SlyBevel
on Dec 28, 2007 -
32 answers
How do you value the content of a blog, or any media company, whose content isn't made up of physical assets?
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posted by mrgreyisyelling
on Dec 3, 2006 -
9 answers
How do shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway earn income? It seems that dividends haven't
been issued since 1967. Short of selling the stock, isn't the investment "tied up"?
[more inside]
posted by daksya
on May 9, 2005 -
19 answers
What is the cheapest you could live and still maintain a fairly normal lifestyle?
[more inside]
posted by Jaybo
on Oct 11, 2004 -
30 answers
