Justin Rietz

Justin Rietz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at San José State University’s College of Social Sciences. His research focuses on the theory of money, experimental economics, and blockchain applications, combining interdisciplinary approaches with anthropology to explore prehistoric economic systems and modern monetary policy.

His recent work includes experimental studies on the origins of money, simulations of prehistoric European salt economies, and blockchain innovations like TontineCoin and SharedWealth protocols. During the pandemic, he co-developed a public economics dashboard tracking San Jose metro economic conditions, featured in media outlets like the San Jose Mercury News and Silicon Valley Business Journal.

Research keywords span experimental economics, monetary theory, blockchain technology, and decentralized finance. His work bridges historical economic models with contemporary digital currency challenges, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and practical policy applications.