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The Economics of Attention: Why Your Focus Is the New Currency

In The Economics of Attention (2023), George Loewenstein and Zachary Wojtowicz argue that attention is a scarce economic resource, as vital as land, labor, and capital. The modern economy thrives on capturing and monetizing our focus, from social media to advertising. Yet, the information explosion hasn’t made us wiser—it has overwhelmed us, leading to distraction and misinformation. AI plays a double role, both competing for and enhancing human attention. The authors call for new policies to regulate attention markets, ensuring our focus serves well-being, not just profit. In today’s world, attention isn’t just power—it’s currency.


 
 
 

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