Hi Quartz members!
How far can esports go?
Is it the next NBA, or the next jai alai?
Michael Prindiville definitely believes it’s the former. As chief of the esports organization Dignitas (which is owned by the same group that owns the Philadelphia 76ers), you might expect that, but Prindiville isn’t saying the road to world domination will be easy. You can read more about his forecast for esports in a revealing Q&A he did with our esports writer, Luke Winkie.
Luke also has a fascinating essay about why esports players retire so young. After all, they’re not defensive linemen—they sit and play video games. But there are specialized physical injuries that come with esports, as well as mental exhaustion or, for lack of a more scientific term, burnout. Read more to learn how esports is more punishing than you think.
A new way to be smarter about markets and the economy
We have another Tipping Points column this week—our look at where things in the world of finance and business are on the verge of fundamental change. Fresh off the keyboard of our resident economist and risk expert Allison Schraeger is her analysis of a topic that’s lately been all over the US news: taxes. Allison evaluates many of the tax proposals swirling around the US right now—both on whether they’d be effective at raising revenue and reducing inequality and also on how likely they’ll be enacted by Congress. Are higher taxes headed your way? Read her column to find out.
Double conference call this week
Not only will we have our regularly scheduled members-only conference call about esports on Friday, but we’ll also hold another call on Thursday at 11 am ET to talk about corporate-earnings season. I’ll be joined by Quartz global finance and economics editor Jason Karaian and Mike Murphy, Quartz’s deputy tech editor. We’ll be talking about Amazon, Apple, Disney, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Snapchat. It should be a great chat; stay tuned for details.
Let’s keep learning. Send questions, comments, and triple-tax-free municipal bonds to members@qz.com.
Here’s to a rewarding day,
Sam Grobart
membership editor