Definitely think it would be interesting to see YC Research&#x27;s take on economics research, but I&#x27;m left wondering, why would someone want to take this position? As opposed to, say, entering an economics PhD program and studying the problem there. To be clear, I don&#x27;t mean to spark an academia-vs-industry (or whatever YC research would be categorized as) battle. I don&#x27;t know the field of econ research well and my prior would be that more perspectives and approaches to the issue would be helpful in studying the problem. What I&#x27;m interested in what would someone personally want out of doing this research but without the support of collaborators in a more formally collegial academic setting or the reputation and pull of an established think tank.<p>To be clear, I&#x27;m not trying to argue that taking this position is a bad idea, I&#x27;m just trying to better understand the opportunity and why YC research might be a better decision than a more run-of-the-mill PhD. I&#x27;m ever so slightly skeptical, but mostly just curious.