5.5 — Reforming Online Data — Class Content

Meeting Date

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Overview

For this final topic, I want to discuss something I have been mulling over for a long time, but never have really explored sufficiently: how we might reform data management on the internet. This is in part a response to the rise of dominant platforms, privacy concerns, antitrust concerns, and the rise of blockchain/Web3 technology.

There’s a lot worth exploring here, so I recommend you look at both the Weyl and the Munger readings - each comes both as a reading and a podcast option which covers relevant ideas contained in each reading.

Readings

Required Readings:

• Posner & Weyl, 2016, “Data as Labor”, Chapter 5 in Radical Markets

• Mercatus Center Hayek Program Podcast: ” Glen Weyl on the Myths and Benefits of Automation”

• EconTalk: “Michael Munger on Antitrust” (ending starting around 1 hr 6 min mark)

• Munger, 2022, “Three Topics for Young Political Economists”

Slides

Below, you can find the slides in two formats. Clicking the image will bring you to the html version of the slides in a new tab. The lower button will allow you to download a PDF version of the slides.

Tip

You can type h to see a special list of viewing options, and type o for an outline view of all the slides.

I suggest printing the slides beforehand and using them to take additional notes in class (not everything is in the slides)!

Download as PDF