About This Book

Potternomics is available for preorder. It will ship on or before its release date of April 21, 2026.

Potternomics: Why Wizards Still Live in the Dark Ages and Other Economic Curiosities in the World of Harry Potter by Brian O'Roark.

Discover the Shocking Economics of the Wizarding World!

The world of Harry Potter is filled with magic, mystery, and adventure, but beneath the surface lies an economy struggling in the dark ages. Potternomics: Why Wizards Still Live in the Dark Ages and Other Economic Curiosities in the World of Harry Potter reveals why the wizarding world, despite its magic, remains economically backward.

Explore fascinating questions through an economic lens:

• Why is there almost no economic growth in the magical world?
• How does the wizarding world grapple with the fundamental problem of scarcity?
• Why are goblins such ineffective bankers?
• From an economic standpoint, why should people be even more terrified of Dementors?
• Why do even the wealthiest wizards maintain a standard of living comparable to the 1700s?
• Could economics explain how Harry, a teenage wizard, defeated the most powerful dark lord?

Part textbook, part Freakonomics, Potternomics is an entirely fun exploration of the economic principles at play in your favorite magical universe. By applying economic concepts to this beloved setting, you'll gain a new appreciation for the story and see that the real magic lies in understanding the forces that shape the wizarding world. Uncover the economic curiosities that make the world of Harry Potter tick!