Research Roundup #5: Virtual Economics, E-Commerce Regulation, and more
Today’s Research Roundup includes thirty studies on economics, law, and technology. Of…
Miscellaneous
Smart Grid Issues Discussed at TPI Aspen Forum
The increased use of electronics in our daily lives has strained America’s electricity infrastructure. Can “Smart Grid” technologies and the modernization of the power infrastructure keep up with the increased demand for energy? Are incentives and other programs helping at the state and federal levels? Is Smart Grid a prudent investment that will benefit consumers, or an expensive boondoggle fraught with standards, control and gold plating issues? The Technology Policy Institute Aspen Forum will feature a breakout session on Smart Grid technologies, their implementation, and related issues for utility regulators. The session is one of three off-the-record discussions scheduled at the Forum, to be held August 22 – 24 at the St. Regis in Aspen, Colorado.
Online Privacy Issues Examined at Aspen Forum
The question of whether and how to regulate the collection and use of online information is receiving renewed attention from the Congress, Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Commerce. What are the privacy problems we face on the Internet? Are they amenable to government or market solutions? What are the strengths and weaknesses of pending legislative proposals? What are the tradeoffs involved in regulating information flows more stringently? These questions will be examined at the TPI Aspen Forum breakout session “Privacy Online: Where Do We Go From Here?” The discussion is one of three off-the-record breakout sessions scheduled at the TPI Aspen Forum, to be held August 22 – 24 at the St. Regis in Aspen, Colorado.
Wireless and Spectrum Issues Explored at Aspen Forum
The explosive growth in smartphone use, emerging 4G networks, and the tantalizing possibility of wireless broadband as a substitute for wireline broadband have brought spectrum issues to the front of telecom debates. The Technology Policy Institute Aspen Forum will feature a roundtable discussion on spectrum and wireless topics such as the growing scope of wireless industries and competition in those areas, how to clear spectrum as called for by the National Broadband Plan, and how the U.S. and other countries are meeting growing challenges facing wireless. The session is one of three off-the-record discussions scheduled at the TPI Aspen Forum, to be held August 22 – 24 at the St. Regis in Aspen, Colorado.
Views from Wall Street and Silicon Valley: The Effects of Policy on Investment
Technology and communications industries help drive economic growth, and policy changes can affect investment. Will proposed regulation affect investment in communications infrastructure? How are investors in media and content companies reacting to changes in distribution methods? Do venture capitalists and Wall Street have different opinions on the effects of policy on investment? Analysts and investors will discuss the environment for investment across the Internet ecosystem during the discussion panel “Views from Wall Street and Silicon Valley: The Effects of Policy on Investment,” at the TPI Aspen Forum. The event is scheduled for August 22-24 at the St. Regis Aspen Resort.
Andrew Keen Added to Aspen Forum Agenda
Andrew Keen, a renowned Internet pioneer and entrepreneur, will be the closing luncheon speaker at the Technology Policy Institute’s Aspen Forum, scheduled for August 22nd – August 24th. Keen will offer remarks on “The Creative Economy or a Tragedy of the Creative Commons?” focusing on the importance of intellectual property rights for the Internet and the possible consequences if we lack systems to enforce such rights. He will join other influential industry leaders and policy experts at the event to discuss key issues affecting innovation in the technology and communications sectors.
Aspen Forum Panel to Explore Internet and the Media
The Internet has been very disruptive to the traditional media industries, which are now scrambling to remain relevant and to keep revenues flowing. How have the media industries and content owners been faring with the increasingly ubiquitous Internet platform? Are new, more viable, business models being developed? Are IP protections sufficient to maintain incentives for content producers? At the TPI Aspen Forum, speakers on the panel “The Internet and the Media – After the first wave, what’s next?” will assess the Internet’s impact on media and try to peer into their crystal balls to forecast the state of various media industries in a few years. The event is scheduled for August 22nd -24th.
Effective Broadband Adoption Solutions Discussed at Aspen Forum
A recent Federal Communications Commission report found that between 14 and 24 million people lack access to broadband. What are the best ways to expand access to unserved or underserved communities? What similar programs have been successful in the past? What are the most promising new ideas? How can the government encourage broadband deployment and adoption in these communities? Two leading technology experts who have been active in this area will discuss these questions and how they are addressed in the National Broadband Plan in the session, “Serving the Underserved: What Are the Best Ways to Do It?” at the TPI Aspen Forum, scheduled for August 22nd -24th.
LinkedIn Co-Founder Hoffman to Speak at Aspen Forum
Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at LinkedIn and Partner at Greylock Partners, will be a keynote speaker at the Technology Policy Institute’s Aspen Forum, scheduled for August 22nd – August 24th. Hoffman will offer remarks on the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurship in the tech sector and the influence of public policy. An accomplished entrepreneur, executive and angel investor, Hoffman has played an integral part in building many of today’s leading consumer technology businesses. He will join other influential industry leaders and policy experts at the event to discuss key issues affecting innovation in the technology and communications sectors.
Research Roundup #4
We’re well into another sweltering summer here in the District, with policy debates that seem to raise the mercury even higher. Take a few minutes to cool down with a crisp, refreshing study from the authors below. Don’t miss the Vigdor and Ladd piece, which provocatively argues that “students who gain access to a home computer between 5th and 8th grade tend to witness a persistent decline in reading and math test scores.” Readers with a mind for engineering over economics may prefer Bauer, Clark, and Lehr’s thorough analysis of “speed” definition and measurement in “high-speed Internet access.” And of course there are a few articles for the lawyer in all of us, including two on intellectual property rights.
(Click through to the full post to see the list of papers and abstract excerpts)