The real horror of ‘Alien’ and how it explains why we’re not paid enough

Labor economist Aaron Dubay compares the trapped space truckers in *Alien* to modern workers stuck in monopsony-like conditions, where few job options exist and quitting is difficult.

The concept of 'shrouded attributes'—hidden contract clauses that force workers into risky or unwanted tasks—is a key parallel between the film and real-world labor practices.

Research shows that even in big cities, workers do not switch jobs as often as classic economic models predict, due to 'search frictions' such as the hassle of finding and applying for new roles.

Non-compete agreements, used by companies as varied as sandwich chains and summer camps, are a common 'monopsony by artifice' that reduces worker mobility and suppresses wages.

The podcast argues that stronger labor unions, higher minimum wages, and antitrust enforcement could counteract monopsony power, much as they would have changed the outcome of *Alien*.