This is not strictly digitisation (well, not at all) but I thought I'd just point to a piece I put out today on using social pressure to solve the inequality problem by getting the rich to feel compelled to pay more taxes. Basically, the idea is that shining a light on contributions (even doing so …
A thousand cuts and the last mile problem
Tim B. Lee has been writing an excellent series of posts on Net Neutrality at Vox. See here, here and here. The picture painted is of the structure of the previously decentralised internet in the US being a mess and one where those with some degree of power (in this case afforded by size) are …
Continue reading "A thousand cuts and the last mile problem"
Pricing movies by the inch
“I think the model will change and you won’t pay for the window of availability. A movie will come out and you will have 17 days, that’s exactly three weekends, which is 95% of the revenue for 98% of movies. On the 18th day, these movies will be available everywhere ubiquitously and you will pay …
The Fault Lines Along Fast Lanes
Until recently, a fast lane from a broadband ISP was a remote possibility in the US. ISPs had to give data equal treatment, regardless of the source, and could not offer faster delivery for a higher price while giving slower service as a default. Although fast lanes were allowed by regulators a few years ago …
The Capital Creators, Piketty and Growth Theory
Something new has happened in economics this month: an influential academic book has been written. Actually, I should say something old has happened because there was a day that academic economists wrote books that had influence. My guess is that it has been about four decades since someone has put original research in the form …
Continue reading "The Capital Creators, Piketty and Growth Theory"
"Free to air" really means that broadcasters have no case
The US Supreme Court is currently hearing a fascinating copyright case. It has been brought be Aereo, a company that streams 'free to air' or broadcast television over the internet to people's computers. It costs for $8 a month for them for which the broadcasters receive -- dum dum dah -- nothing. Well, except the …
Continue reading ""Free to air" really means that broadcasters have no case"
The first unit is expensive: Wu-Tang Clan edition
A month ago, the music group, Wu-Tang Clan decided to do something we 'economics of digitisation' folks have always dreamed about: they decided to make just one unit of their next album. The plan is for the album to first make a tour of festivals, museums and galleries (no dates or locations have been set, however), …
Continue reading "The first unit is expensive: Wu-Tang Clan edition"
A week with Vox
The new economics/politics/news website, Vox.com, launched a week ago. It is one of many independent ventures cropping up that are well financed and are attempting to give us the future of the news media. What I have been particular interested in is where it will be in this space. And here are my thoughts based …
The Anatomy of Imitation
In February, at the height of the Flappy Bird fad, a game called, Threes, was released in the app store. It had the addictive quality of Flappy Bird but it was not nearly so pointless and required, for want of a better word, 'thought.' It was also a polished game. Great music. Very fluid design. …
Can economists forecast technological progress?
As regular readers know, my co-blogger Erik Brynjolfsson has been in a continuing debate with Bob Gordon about what the next few decades are likely to bring technology-wise. There is no easy resolution of that debate as it ultimately depends on your view regarding whether technological progress will continue to have an impact on productivity …
Continue reading "Can economists forecast technological progress?"
Digitopoly 