Economic Regulation of Network Systems

Professor:
Units: 1.0
Elective Course
Concentrations: Policy Analysis; Economic Analysis
Prerequisite: Microeconomics and constrained optimization techniques

This course develops the microeconomic background and the regulatory policy tools used in network industries, such as telephone companies or Internet service providers. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of these industries. They will learn to use concepts not usually taught in microeconomics related to multi-product firms and network effects. They will learn to apply a combination of theory, institutional and empirical analysis to inform competition policy and industry-specific regulation. The study of the course should enable students to address policy questions about when to regulate and how to regulate network industries. As part of the assignments students will learn to assess academic and policy papers for their usefulness as policy tools.