Economics of
Network Industries, Spring 2020
Prof.
Pierfrancesco Reverberi
Office: Room
A105, DIAG, via Ariosto 25
Office hours: Thursday, 17:30-19:00
Email: reverberi@diag.uniroma1.it
Course page: www.dis.uniroma1.it/~reverber/eni.htm
Announcements
On line classes starting on Wednesday, March 18
Platform: Google Meet
Google classroom course code is vtx4snq
Overview
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the
new information economy and the economics of network industries. Students are
expected to gain insight into how the specific features of technology and
demand affect market structure, firms’ strategies and business models, as well
as public policy in network industries. At the end of the course, students
should be able to use methods and models of microeconomics and
industrial organization to understand and analyze
the competitive dynamics in network industries.
Readings
The main reference textbook is:
·
Shapiro C., H. Varian
(1999), Information Rules: A Strategic
Guide to the Network Economy, Harvard Business Press.
Additional recommended readings for each of the topics
covered in class are listed in the course outline. Students are supposed to
have a basic knowledge of microeconomics and game theory, but the relevant
concepts and tools are reviewed in class.
Stories
Final exam
Generally, the final written exam consists in solving
one or two exercises similar to those included in the problem set, and
discussing one or two questions based on the topics covered in class.
Students may replace part of the written exam with a project
work developed within a small team (this possibility has to be explored and
ultimately defined later in the semester).