The EVE economy is much more complex than the TF2 and WoW economies, of course, but I think the simpler cases are especially instructive precisely because they

The EVE economy is much more complex than the TF2 and WoW economies, of course, but I think the simpler cases are especially instructive precisely because they don't possess many complicating elements that would make economic analysis difficult. Here all Yanis V. has to look at is the relative trade data of a mere 4 commodities; he probably wouldn't be able to go into so much depth if he were analysing EVE, simply because of the many additional confounding factors. A simple economy can be more easily used to put predictions of basic economic theory to the test, as opposed to a complex one. So while I'd agree EVE offers even more interesting scenarios (and I say this as a big admirer of EVE), I'd say this analysis of a simpler model may be more instructive and clean-cut for economists.