Course teached as: B000115 - ECONOMIA PUBBLICA 3-years First Cycle Degree (DM 270/04) in POLITICAL SCIENCE Curriculum SCIENZE DEL LAVORO
Teaching Language
Italiano
Course Content
The course provides an analysis of the economics of information and communication. It studies the implication of digitization technology on industry, organizational structure, and business strategy. Pricing, bundling, and versioning of digital goods are examined. An important part of the course are the students essays on selected topics prevoiusly agreed with the teacher
Varian, H., Farrell, J., Shapiro, C The Economics of Information Technology: An Introduction, Cambridge University Press,
Varian, H., Shapiro, C., Shapiro, C. Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy; Harvard Business (selected chapters previously agreed with the teacher).
Learning Objectives
The course aims at making the student acquainted with the economics of information and communication. The technicalities will be kept to a minimum and brought back where needed
Prerequisites
The course is set to be accessible to all students even to those with just a bare economic background
Teaching Methods
Mainly front line lectures (70%), Individual essay (30%).
Further information
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Type of Assessment
Discussion of individual essay
Course program
Technology and market structure; Intellectual Property; The internet Boom; Differentiation of product an Prices;
Switching cost and lock-in; Supply side economies of scale; Demand side economies of scale; Standards; Computer mediated transaction.
Intellectual property, competition and information technology: Patents, trade secrets and copyrights; Differentiation of products and prices; Switching costs and lock-in; Standards and patents
Pricing information; Versioning information; Managing Lock-in; Network and positive feed-back; Cooperation and Compatibility; Regulation