Pulling the SNAP lever + Why Gen Zers bet (invest?) differently
This newsletter discusses the intersection of finance and human behavior, highlighting a game that simulates trading on the lives of alien babies. It also touches on the impact of removing sugary drinks from SNAP eligibility and broader economic trends.
Why it matters
Understanding how policy changes and market incentives influence consumer behavior is critical for evaluating the effectiveness of social welfare programs.
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"When's the last time you shorted a baby." That's how the trailer starts for the video game Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator . This game feels just like a Planet Money episode wrapped in a weird little box. And it plays on the concept of 'information advantage.' That's something ex-Congressman George Santos used to make money off the State of the Union, for which he just received a lifetime ban on Kalshi. It's about making money on a human outcome using the advantage of beautiful, all-knowing information. This game was posted in NPR's #gaming Slack channel and got people talking about how silly it was.
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