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I listened to the Magnus Archives

This resource list is for others who, like me, think their fiction needs more economics. I am not an economist. These are just resources that seemed helpful to me. All of these are also articles rather than videos out of personal preference.

High Level

These are your tl;dr resources. They provide a springboard for thought.

The Three Economies (DnD Other)

This wiki article “The Three Economies” is for gamemasters and specifically for D&D, but it provides a very high-level summary of the kinds of economy that might occur in D&D-style settings in a way that I think is broadly applicable for worldbuilding (e.g., thing itself, agreed-upon value of thing, etc).

The Cambist and Lord Iron

This fantastic short story by Daniel Abraham is fiction, but it delves into the idea of currency and how we determine value. If you want to see how economics can fit with fiction and get an idea for how currency exchange works, this story is worth reading.

Worldbuilding 102: Economics in Fantasy Society Part 1

This blog article discusses the three kinds of economy (gift, barter, market) at a high level and provides possible story hooks for each, demonstrating the value of including economics in fantasy.

Building an Economy Overall

Enriching Your Worldbuilding with Economics

This article poses three key questions (and explains how answering them supports stories). The questions are the following: what is the payoff, what is the cost (and who is paying it), and what are the main externalities?

For Your Enjoyment, Part 3: Trade and commerce for deeper economies

This article covers currency, markets, merchants, trade, and economic sectors. Each section is brief, but practical for writers. It also provides examples of three kinds of currency: commodity, representative, and fiat.

Currency

Creating Coins: Worldbuilding Fantasy Money

A step-by-step guide to creating coinage.

Worldbuilding 101: Currency

A great explanation of currency, including the required aspects and different types. The section on mathematics provides some great guidance on deciding the units involved in your imaginary currency.

Worldbuilding 102: Money and Banking in Fantasy Societies

This blog article provides a brief overview of the history of currency from cowrie shells and salt to promissory notes and bills, as well as the history of banking and accounting.

Tips for Creating a Fictional Currency

This blog article provides a brief explanation of the key qualities for any imaginary currency: rarity, durability, weight, uniformity, and divisibility.

Alternative Economics (Part 1: Money)

This resource reviews how money works and discusses multiple examples from history and fiction.

Currency and Worldbuilding

This resource reviews the pros and cons of some well-known fictional currencies including credits, spheres, kittens, and coins.

What is Money?

The Reserve Bank of Australia shares these three requirements: widely accepted means of payment, unit of account, and store of value. This high-level explanation includes some examples of historical currency.

List Price of Medieval Items

Although the site isn't the prettiest, this list of medieval items and costs, with sources, includes conversions into pounds and shillings (at the time of publication, which looks to be in the late 90s).

Markets and Trade

Natural Resources and Trade in Fantasy Worldbuilding

This high-level article discusses the importance of natural resources and trade and how to use them to generate conflict.

An Incredibly Detailed Map of Medieval Trade Routes

Exactly as the title says. This focuses, specifically, on 11th and 12th century routes.

8 Trade Routes That Shaped History

Yes, this is a Mental Floss listicle. Yes, it is worth reading, if only to learn of eight historical trade routes to look up more information about.

This map shows how new words spread along trade routes

Exactly as the title says. Specifically, the map charts the following words: whiskey, tomato, coca, ivory, cotton, and tea.

Supply and Demand: Why Markets Tick

This basic overview explains what the Law of Supply and Law of Demand are and how they interact in markets.

Nabataean Trade Routes

A historical review of Nabataean routes. I think this paper is especially helpful to writers because historical record is not as complete as for other traders and routes. The speculation in this paper could open up potential plot points for a fantasy society. The paper also mentions the framework of outside incomes and inside incomes.

Economic Topics (e.g., Inflation, Guilds)

Guilds and the Economy

This academic article by Sheilagh Ogilvie is an in-depth exploration of guilds and the myriad ways they affected medieval economies. I adore Ogilvie (and highly rec her book The European Guilds), but if you're looking for a very positive portrayal of guilds, this is not it. If, instead, you're hoping for an honest and robust exploration of how guilds complicated medieval life, this is the article for you. While long, the headings can help you quickly find the sub-sections most relevant for you. Check out her other articles on her website. They're all worth reading.

Star Trek's Post-Scarcity World, Explained

This article is about Star Trek and how that fictional world achieved a (partial) post-scarcity society.

Rethinking Work in a Post-Scarcity Economy

This high level article explains what post-scarcity is and how society can adjust to such a reality. It also shares a brief list of benefits and challenges.

"What the Hell is Inflation Anyway?"

This article focuses on linguistics, but makes a rather critical point about how language shapes understanding, which then can shape economic policies. This seems valuable for anyone wanting to find less modern terms for economic principles or who are developing a conlang that may include economy terms.

Inflation and its Measurement

I like Reserve Bank of Australia resources because they don't rely on videos. This article explains what inflation is and how to calculate it. While it does get a bit technical, the visuals and straightforward writing keep it accessible to lay people.

The Economies of Science Fiction

Just very clearly an attempt at saying, “my what?”

You can be as offended as possible about the language used, or you can look at the actual intent behind the words.

This man grew up in a time when trans people used that word for themselves. He probably hung out with a few often enough and just absorbed the language.

He was very much using it in a positive context. The barista he’s referring too is probably the only one that makes his favorite drink just right.

This.

I'm 30something and new(a year and change) to my transition and you can pry tranny from my cold dead hands.

I'm also a gay man and you can pull faggot out of my clenched teeth.

I stood on the outside for decades like an orphan in the rain but I never stopped fighting the good fight as an "ally" and now I'm inside I will say and do whatever I fucking want forever because those words feel right on me.

“kill the cop in your head” means,

btw.