Ghostbusters is not just the second-highest grossing film of 1984 and one of the most beloved movie comedies of all time. According to “The Economics of Ghostbusters”, produced by the economics web series EconPop, it’s also an object lesson in “ectoplasm, Sumerian dogs, entrepreneurship, and the pitfalls of overzealous government regulators.”
EconPop is hosted by New York-based comedian Andrew Heaton and executive produced by video producer/ad agency CEO John Papola. The aim of the series is to use pop culture references to help explain basic economic principles; so far, it’s delved into the economics of House Of Cards and Dallas Buyers Club. But a movie where a small business triumphs over a government official with a chip on his shoulder is an easy sell for economists. If Heaton and Papola are looking for a challenge, next time they could try to justify the business tactics of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.