One of the things I want to do is an economic analysis of advertising. Specifically, what is the overhead that advertising imposes as compared to an economy whe

One of the things I want to do is an economic analysis of advertising. Specifically, what is the overhead that advertising imposes as compared to an economy where consumers paid directly for the products they used? Clearly there is no free lunch, and we still pay for the so-called "free stuff" that advertising "gives" us, it's just that it feels like we're not paying for it. Your HN profile provides no email address, which means I can't email you, nor can those that might offer you the job that your profile says you seek.