Conclusion

Legitimizing the economies of virtual worlds is the first step in making the regulation of virtual worlds possible by government entities. This will benefit the community at large for serveral reasons, namely the regulation and adoption of policies governing the sale and exchange of these items will help to curb inflation and exploitation of the system for monetary gains. One of the major problems is sweatshop like gold farms in countries like China. Recognizing the legitimacy of RMT will allow more of these businesses to move back to the United States, where regulations regarding fair labor and trade can be enforced.

Virtual worlds are here to stay, and as we become more engrossed in the fantasies they provide, the more real-world economic impact they will have. In a world where people can hold a real-world and a virtual job, economic regulation is a must for the successful growth of the industry.

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