Interest in information technology and the media is growing apace. This book has been specially written to provide an economics framework for analysing the nature and scope, as well as issues, pertaining to the new information and communication technology and revolution. It also presents some trends and perspectives from the Asia-Pacific region. While the economic principles of efficiency and competition are the same everywhere, many socio-political issues with respect to information technology and the media are unique to some specific cultural contexts. The book will be useful to students, researchers and policymakers in mass communication, information technology and the media.

Interest in information technology and the media is growing apace. This book has been specially written to provide an economics framework for analysing the nature and scope, as well as issues, pertaining to the new information and communication technology and revolution. It also presents some trends and perspectives from the Asia-Pacific region. While the economic principles of efficiency and competition are the same everywhere, many socio-political issues with respect to information technology and the media are unique to some specific cultural contexts. The book will be useful to students, researchers and policymakers in mass communication, information technology and the media.

The Economics of Information Technology is a concise and accessible review of some of the important economic factors affecting information technology industries. These industries are characterized by high fixed costs and low marginal costs of production, large switching costs for users, and strong network effects. These factors combine to produce some unique behavior. The book consists of two parts. In the first part, Professor Varian outlines the basic economics of these industries. In the second part, Professors Farrell and Shapiro describe the impact of these factors on competition policy. The clarity of the analysis and exposition makes this an ideal introduction for undergraduate and graduate students in economics, business strategy, law and related areas.

Media industries and services present a complex set of challenges to economic analysis: challenges made more difficult by the technological changes that have been transforming the media sector. Research on the economics of media has made major advances

Along with its interrelated companion volume, The Content, Impact, and Regulation of Streaming Video, this book covers the next generation of TV—streaming online video, with details about its present and a broad perspective on the future. It reviews the new technical elements that are emerging, both in hardware and software, their long-term trend, and the implications. It discusses the emerging ‘media cloud’ of video and infrastructure platforms, and the organizational form of such TV.

This fully updated third edition analyzes the media industries and their activities from macro to micro levels, using concepts and theories to demonstrate the role the media plays in the economy as a whole. This textbook breaks new ground through its analysis of the rapidly changing and evolving media economy from two unique perspectives. First, the book explores how media industries function across global, national, household, and individual levels of society. Second, it assesses how key forces such as technology, globalization, regulation, and consumer aspects are constantly evolving and influencing media industries. This new edition incorporates thoroughly updated theory and research as well as expanded case studies that include examples from international markets such as Asia, Europe, and Latin America. It builds on the contributions of the previous edition by providing new references and current data to define and analyze today’s media markets and offers a more expansive assessment of streaming business models as well as the effects of Covid-19 on the media economy. Written in an accessible style and presenting a holistic global perspective of the role of media in the global economy, the textbook provides crucial insights for students and practitioners of media economics, media management and media industries.