About Metanomics

The term Metanomics was coined in 2007 to describe the study of economics and policy in the "metaverse" of online virtual worlds. Today, Metanomics defines not only our sphere of interest, but also the growing group of people who are interested in Metanomics, and how we communicate these innovative concepts.

Our Interests

Metanomics focuses on economic issues in virtual worlds like Second Life or There. On the one hand, we examine how residents of these online places establish, manage and regulate their enterprises. On the other, we explore how real-world businesses and nonprofit organizations interact with virtual worlds.

To find out a little more about us, take a look at the video from the first event Metanomics event, Metanomics 101, in which Professor Robert Bloomfield, who hosts the series, sketched a broad overview of the nascent field.

Our Target Audience

Metanomics draws both its guests and its audience from the four communities that shape business and policy in the metaverse:

  • Executives of real-world enterprises using virtual worlds to achieve their real-world strategic goals;
  • Virtual entrepreneurs serving both real-world and virtual-world clienteles;
  • World developers and policy-makers shaping the virtual world industry;
  • Academics studying and educating these communities, and using virtual worlds as research laboratories.

    • Our Organization

    Before every Metanomics event, this website highlights online content that helps our audience to understand the concepts and issues which frame each interview. You'll learn about the virtual-world and real-world enterprises under consideration, and get to know the people whose lives change and are changed by the virtual world experience. As a result, the audience for Metanomics is particularly well-informed, and composed largely of professionals in business, education and policy.

    We encourage you to discuss Metanomics issues, and to pose your own suggestions, ideas, and questions to Metanomics guests. Help us out by suggesting Metanomics guests and topics. Self-nominations are welcome!

    Our Communication

    Live Metanomics events take place every Monday between 11 and noon PDT, and are rebroadcast to a live audience on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. In addition, Metanomics often holds special events, so check our website calendar regularly or join the Metanomics group in your virtual world to make sure you don't miss a thing!

    At every Metanomics event, the thought-provoking interaction between host Robert Bloomfield and invited guests provides a framework for a lively audience discussion in chat. Metanomics broadcasts all our events live on www.slcn.tv, and posts video, audio, and audio transcripts and chat discussion archives on the Metanomics website.