GTA 6 Launch Projected to Cost US Economy $1 Billion

Large numbers of people are expected to take time off or use vacation days on the second-to-last Thursday of autumn. José Montalvo, Professor of Economics at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, has calculated how enthusiasm for Grand Theft Auto VI on launch day translates into economic figures.

• The primary individuals taking time off will be young men aged 18 to 30.
• The technology sector will experience a greater impact than any other industry.
• Labor productivity will drop by about 2 percent in the short term, though these effects could reach further.
• The absence of students and workers will result in a $1 billion cost to the American economy.

However, losses will be accompanied by gains. Revenue from the launch of GTA VI could multiply several times over, which would place the overall economy in the black.