<b>Ashish Sharma</b>: The quicker path to riches

Virtual economies match talent and rewards better

In the virtual world of Second Life, my dancing at a gay bar bought my (virtual) wife the most expensive clothing in that world. Needless to say, I started out with nothing — virtual economies start you out with nothing — and ended with enough to retire me and my wife (virtual) for the rest of our pixel lives.

In real-world economy, however, I would have to slog my entire life to set up a retirement fund for the Philippines (discounting wife), because my wages would be tied to experience, typically rising with age — only. Compare that with a