Uber has a difficult challenge. Faced with voracious interest group attacks, every misstep is a potential public relations problem. Previously, they have been hit hard regarding 'surge pricing' whereby in periods of high demand prices may be several multiples their usual level. We economists like surge pricing because it effectively rations demand while encouraging supply. …
It's not complicated, just chill
I have just finished danah boyd's new book, It's Complicated: The Social Life of Networked Teens. danah was (and still is) a researcher at Microsoft Research when I was there in 2011. I didn't interact with her too much as I was focussed on other matters but it always struck me that her investigations into …
Apple's goto fail is pretty interesting and worth reading about
I update my Apple devices regularly so when, four days ago, a security alert was issued and then an iOS software update appeared, I did not think too much about it. But this article in Slate about what the security issue was and how it was found piqued my interest. It is worth reading, take …
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Coase, Net Neutrality and Netflix
Comcast and Netflix have come to a deal on 'peering.' Basically, what this means is that Netflix will pay Comcast to ensure that Netflix's customers get good internet service for Netflix. While apparently, Netflix is not getting special treatment under the deal, as we economists all know, it is what not having a deal would …
Why the mobile operating system market won't tip
Fear of tipping dominates information technology. The most famous example of this was PC and Mac where an orientation towards business led to a greater variety of software titles being available for Windows than Mac which wasn't dislodged until the use of the Internet became the primary use case for a computer. But today, where …
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WhatsApp to Facebook? Strategic compatibility, that's What
There's nothing like $19 billion dollars to set the cat amongst the pigeons. And what's more for something most people even those tech savvy neither use and, in many cases, haven't heard of. Regular readers will be happy to learn that I have been watching this space for some time due to a long standing …
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It's time for Flappy Economist
While most of the world think that Flappy Bird is fairly useless and without redeeming value, some think there is opportunity. Folks, thanks to my son, I bring you Flappy Economist. In it you control the money supply but you have to balance between the economy going between disastrous unemployment or rampant inflation. Of course, …
Time to get real on Comcast-Time Warner
Comcast and Time Warner want to merge their cable operations in the US. They are the two largest Pay TV companies but the merger would result in them having 30 percent of the US pay TV market. That said, competition is, in many respects local, and the argument is that there the shares of each …
Flapping around on the App Store
"I just doubled my high score." "What did you get? 2?" "Yes." That is a typical conversation one might have with others regarding Flappy Bird, the hottest mobile game right now. Here is the words that emanate when you play it: "X%$^##*&**&(*%#" Start Again. Tap tap tap "X%$^##*&**&(*%#" Suffice it to say, don't play this …
The Giant's Shoulders: Suzanne Scotchmer
Sad news today that Suzanne Scotchmer has passed away. She was a professor of both economics and law at Berkeley and one of the most significant figures in applied economic theory over the past few decades. The loss from cancer came as a shock to many of us in the field. I can hardly imagine …
Digitopoly 