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The study of computing is incomplete without some consideration
of the economic factors that influence the associated investment,
research and development, access, distribution and social impact.
In this section some useful links are provided which cover four
key areas:
- Monopolies and their economic implications
- Effect of skilled labor supply and demand on the quality of
computing products
- Pricing strategies in the computing domain
- Differences in access to computing resources and the possible
effects thereof
The links on this page will open in a new browser window. Links
marked with “PDF” are files made via Portable Document
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The Internet Economy Indicators
www.connectlive.com/events/interneteconomy/
This is the fourth report measuring the Internet economy commissioned
by Cisco Systems and covers the first half of 2000. It shows that
the Internet is transforming the economy and the way people work,
to an extent that few people would have imagined just a few years
ago.
Technology and Economic Growth in the Information
Age
www.ncpa.org/bg/bg147/bg147.html
This is an interesting economic forecast published in March 1998 by the National
Center for Policy Analysis in the US. It can be used as a comparative study.
Economics of Information Technology
www.sims.berkeley.edu/~hal/Papers/mattioli/mattioli.html
This is an overview of economic phenomena that are important for high-technology
industries. Topics covered include personalization of products and prices,
versioning, bundling, switching costs, lock-in, economies of scale, network
effects, standards, and systems effects.
Are Computers Increasing Productivity? (PDF)
www.crito.uci.edu/itr/publications/pdf/COMPUTERS-BOOSTING-PROD.PDF
This 1999 US study focuses on the economic impacts of IT investment in state
governments. It addresses the obstacles of realizing the potential of IT investment.
Computers, Obsolescence, and Productivity (PDF)
www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2000/200006/200006pap.pdf
This paper, published in February 2000, shows that increased productivity in
the computer-producing sector and the effect of investment in computers on
the productivity of those who use them together account for the acceleration
in U.S. labor productivity.
The Economics of Electronic Commerce (PDF)
www.combinet.net/ecomrept/CHOGMReportR1.PDF
This report, published by the Commonwealth Secretariat in 2000, discusses the
growing importance of electronic commerce in trade and the developmental implications
of the use of cyberspace for commercial and financial transactions.
National Center For Policy Analysis - Economic
Issues and Productivity
www.ncpa.org/iss/eco/i_productivity.html
This web site has many great articles about productivity and the effect of
technology on the economy.
Computerworld.com
www.computerworld.com/news/
This US-based computer electronic newspaper is a good source for current news
commentary.
ComputerWeekly.com
www.computerweekly.co.uk
This UK-based computer electronic newspaper is a good source for current news
commentary.
Center for Research in Electronic Commerce,
University of Texas
crec.mccombs.utexas.edu/
This research center describes as: “CREC, at the heart of the Silicon
Hills of Austin, is today’s leading research center in electronic commerce,
digital economy and information technology, in close collaboration with industry
and business leaders.” This site contains a range of reports and other
resources.
National Center for Policy Analysis – Antitrust
www.ncpa.org/iss/ant/
This contains many articles about anti-trust issues.
The Danger of Corporate Monopolies
www.cse.stanford.edu/classes/cs201/projects-95-96/corporate-monopolies
Monopolies, by definition, strangle competition. How does one quantify the
harms of a software monopoly, whose market dominance allows for valuable standardization,
but whose power inflates the price to consumers and prevents the birth of higher
quality competitors? This project tackles these questions and other issues
surrounding the advent of the computer corporate monopoly.
Articles About Microsoft
dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Business/Allegedly_Unethical_Firms/Microsoft/
This page from the Open Directory Project provides a broad range of concerns
about the actions of Microsoft.
Government and Monopolies: A Libertarian View
fare.tunes.org/liberty/microsoft_monopoly.html
This article takes a radical libertarian stance about Microsoft and government,
and – more generally – about monopolies. The authors explain how
the original “evil” behind Microsoft’s monopoly is government
intervention in the form of intellectual property privileges, and how any solution
should begin by ending these privileges.
The Supply of Information Technology Workers
in the United States
www.cra.org/reports/wits/exec_summary.html
This study was published by the Computer Research Association in 2000. The
purpose of the study was to improve understanding of the supply of and demand
for information technology (IT) workers in the United States, and the surrounding
contextual issues.
The E-Economy in Europe: Its Challenges for
Education and Skills (PDF)
europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/events/e-economy/doc/skills_paper.pdf
An overview of the skills shortage in Europe in 2001.
Information Technology Landscape in Nations
www.american.edu/academic.depts/ksb/mogit/country.html
This site is a database of knowledge about information and communication technologies
in various nations.
Pricing Strategies for Digital Information
Goods and Online Service on the Internet
www.mba.ntu.edu.tw/~jtchiang/StrategyEC/eec/report1/report1.htm
This paper discusses a pricing model for both suppliers and customers of firms
that offer digital products over the Internet.
Pricing Strategies
www.euro-share.com/pricing.asp
An article about software pricing by Jeff Camino or North Star Solutions published
in 2000.
High Technology Industries and Market Structure
www.sims.berkeley.edu/~hal/Papers/structure/
This is a 2001 review of various economic phenomenon that are important in
high-technology industries, such as personalization of products and pricing,
versioning, bundling, switching costs, lock-in, economics of scale, network
effects, complements and computer-mediated contracts.
Self-Selection Strategies for Information Goods
www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue7_3/dedeke/
This 2002 paper describes the basics concepts of first-degree, second- and
third-degree price discrimination.
New Connections, Old Exclusions: Ethnic Minorities
in Ireland’s Information Society (Text)
www.lse.ac.uk/collections/EMTEL/Conference/papers/Ugba.doc
This paper, from the 2003 EMTEL conference, argues that a new information economy
and network society has emerged in Ireland and that access to ICT is critical
for the inclusion of the country’s marginalized immigrant and ethnic
minority groups in this new society.
Bridging Cultural and Digital Divides: Signifying
Everyday Life, Cultural Diversity and Participation in the On-line
Community Video Nation (PDF)
www.lse.ac.uk/collections/EMTEL/Conference/papers/carpentier.pdf
This paper, from the 2003 EMTEL conference, considers the digital divide from
a broad scope, focusing on the abilities of ICT to stimulate access, interaction
and participation.
Digital Opportunity Channel
www.digitalopportunity.org/guides/basics/
This is a collection of links to organizations and groups active in trying
to overcome this digital divide, and their introduction to areas and issues
of ICT access that may further understanding on the basics of this global issue.
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