Warm Glow

I bought the new radiohead album for about $5.  Apparently this is interesting to economists who are trying to understand why anyone would pay money for something that is free.

Some economists suspect that what is going on is that people get a kick from the act of giving the band money for the album rather than taking it for free. It could take many forms, like pleasure at being able to bypass the record labels, which many see as only slightly worse than the military-industrial complex. It could come from the notion that the $8 helps keep Radiohead in business. Or it could make fans feel that they are helping create a new art form — or a new economy. People who study philanthropy call it the “warm glow” that comes from doing something that we, and others, believe to be good.

Well, I have to say, I’m mostly motivated by the stick-it-to-the-record-company factor.  Whatever the reason though, I downloaded it, and I give it a whole hearted, meh.  However, I’d buy it all over again because I’m totally digging the warm glow.  Read more at the New York Times.