Showing archive for: “News & Social Media”
An update on the evolving e-book market: Kindle edition (pun intended)
[UPDATE: Josh links to a WSJ article telling us that EU antitrust enforcers raided several (unnamed) e-book publishers as part of an apparent antitrust investigation into the agency model and whether it is “improperly restrictive.” Whatever that means. Key grafs: At issue for antitrust regulators is whether agency models are improperly restrictive. Europe, in particular, ... An update on the evolving e-book market: Kindle edition (pun intended)
Abercrombie’s Ohio express slows down
Last December Abercrombie filed a preliminary proxy statement announcing a plan to reincorporate from Delaware to Ohio. Steve Davidoff and I commented on the move. Steve noted that, while Abercrombie had highlighted various reasons for the move, the shareholders had to dig through the disclosures to learn that it was, as I said in December, ... Abercrombie’s Ohio express slows down
Antitrust and ObamaCare
There is an interesting story developing on antitrust enforcement and collaboration between hospitals and doctors encouraged by the new health care law. The New York Times reports: An influential Republican member of the Federal Trade Commission, J. Thomas Rosch, said that without “vigorous antitrust enforcement,” the new alliances of health care providers could reduce competition ... Antitrust and ObamaCare
Gladwell on US News
Malcolm Gladwell tackles US News college and law school rankings in the 2/14 New Yorker (subscription required). The result is the usual Gladwellian light-headedness, a lot of cleverness but best taken like most situation comedies, without a lot of reflection. Gladwell begins by making the simple and unarguable point that you can’t capture the quality ... Gladwell on US News
Microsoft undermines its own case
One of my favorite stories in the ongoing saga over the regulation (and thus the future) of Internet search emerged earlier this week with claims by Google that Microsoft has been copying its answers–using Google search results to bolster the relevance of its own results for certain search terms. The full story from Internet search ... Microsoft undermines its own case
No, Nudge Was Not on Trial
Slate’s David Weigel ran an otherwise informative piece on Cass Sunstein’s testimony, as head of OIRA, at a recent House Energy and Commerce Committee. The headline? Nudge on Trial: Cass Sunstein Defends the White House Against a Republican Attack. From Weigel’s description of the hearing, there was some general hand wringing about whether there is ... No, Nudge Was Not on Trial
Does the Voluntary Industry “Agreement” to Ban Phosphates in Dishwasher Detergents Violate Section 1?
Apparently, the detergent industry has entered into what has been described as a “voluntary agreement” to reduce the use of phosphates in detergents (HT: Ted Frank). A press release from Clean Water Action describes the agreement as follows: On July 1, 2010 a voluntary ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents will be implemented by many ... Does the Voluntary Industry “Agreement” to Ban Phosphates in Dishwasher Detergents Violate Section 1?
R.I.P. Alfred Kahn (1917-2010)
A remembrance from David Henderson,and Kahn’s entry in the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics on Airline Deregulation. An excerpt from the WSJ/ AP obituary: A leading scholar on public-utility deregulation, Mr. Kahn led the move to deregulate U.S. airlines as chief of the now-defunct Civil Aeronautics Board in 1977-78. The board had to give its approval ... R.I.P. Alfred Kahn (1917-2010)
Richard Thaler’s Rejoinder to the TOTM Free to Choose Symposium
I have now had a chance to read through the contributions to this event and have a few thoughts to share. I cannot, of course, reply to everything that has been said here, and in any case, most of what I would say already appears in print. Before getting into specifics let me say one ... Richard Thaler’s Rejoinder to the TOTM Free to Choose Symposium
What’s An Internet Monopolist? A Reply to Professor Wu
We’ve been reading with interest a bit of an blog squabble between Tim Wu and Adam Thierer ( see here and here) set off by Professor Wu’s WSJ column: “In the Grip of the New Monopolists.” Wu’s column makes some remarkable claims, and, like Adam, we find it extremely troubling. Wu starts off with some ... What’s An Internet Monopolist? A Reply to Professor Wu
The return of Rudy G
The WSJ has breathlessly reported: Federal authorities, capping a three-year investigation, are preparing insider-trading charges that could ensnare consultants, investment bankers, hedge-fund and mutual-fund traders, and analysts across the nation, according to people familiar with the matter. The criminal and civil probes, which authorities say could eclipse the impact on the financial industry of any ... The return of Rudy G
Some Economics of Contractual Restrictions on Political Contributions by Cable Pundits
Jonathan Adler and Orin Kerr chime in over at VC to make the point that MSNBC’s rules against contributions from television personalities is pointless, or perhaps counterproductive. Here’s Adler: I agree with Orin that strict application of rules against political activity by journalists to opinionated commentators and hosts is silly. No one believes these figures ... Some Economics of Contractual Restrictions on Political Contributions by Cable Pundits
