Economics of Facts

A framework that analyzes how facts are produced, distributed, and valued within a market-like system. Facts are not free; they cost money to research, verify, and disseminate. The economics of facts examines who can afford to produce facts, who controls their distribution, and how fact‑checking is funded. It reveals that the “marketplace of ideas” is not level: wealthy actors can flood the zone with falsehoods, while fact‑checkers struggle to keep up. Facts become a scarce resource, unequally distributed.

Example: “The disinformation campaign spent millions; the fact‑checkers worked on a shoestring. The economics of facts meant the lies spread faster than the corrections.”

Market of Facts

The competitive arena where factual claims, data, and evidence vie for attention, credibility, and influence. In the market of facts, not all facts are equal: some are backed by institutions, some by viral appeal, some by political power. The market rewards facts that fit existing narratives, that are easy to communicate, and that serve the interests of those who control distribution channels. It is not a neutral marketplace but a contested terrain shaped by power and money.

Example: “The study that confirmed people’s biases was shared a million times; the nuanced follow‑up that corrected it was ignored. The market of facts had chosen its winner.”

Economics of Facts by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal April 20, 2026