Competition
AI Monopolists Could Be a Disaster for Workers
If artificial intelligence reshapes production across the entire economy, it could drive the cost of goods toward zero. But Yale SOM economist Fiona Scott Morton argues that if AI is captured by a small number of powerful firms, falling wages could coincide with persistently high prices, leaving workers far worse off.
Economic Competition in a Time of Crisis
What will the sudden economic shock mean for competition and antitrust policy? We asked Yale SOM’s Fiona Scott Morton, an economist who served in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, for her perspective.
Why the WHO Was Afraid of Crying ‘Pandemic’
Yale SOM’s Saed Alizamir, with Francis de Véricourt of ESMT and Shouqiang Wang of the University of Texas at Dallas, recently published a study that uses game theory to play out the tradeoffs that the WHO and other public agencies face as they try to give timely warnings while maintaining their credibility.
The Suleimani Killing and the New Order of Armed Conflict
We asked Paul Bracken, a professor of management and political science, what the capability to pinpoint enemy leaders from afar in real time means for modern warcraft.
Firms Sacrifice Worker Safety When Demand Is High
Using data from the U.S. mining industry, Yale SOM’s Kerwin Charles and his co-authors investigated the relationship between higher demand and safety, and found that increased investment in safety measures is overwhelmed by the incentive to increase production while prices are high, leaving workers less safe overall.
What’s the Right Price?
A new study co-authored by Yale SOM’s Kevin Williams suggests that the zone pricing employed by home improvement chains benefits some consumers at the expense of others—and costs one of the two giants potential profits.
Can Antitrust Enforcement Protect Digital Consumers?
More and more of our economic and social lives are being conducted through digital channels. Economist Fiona Scott Morton talks about how effective antitrust regulation and enforcement can ensure that consumers benefit from the next killer app.
Got a Great Idea? Tell Your Rivals
A new study from Yale’s Jiwoong Shin finds that companies with truly innovative products may actually benefit from giving away some of their secrets.
Why ‘Breaking Up’ Big Tech Probably Won’t Work
Instead, argues Yale SOM’s Fiona Scott Morton, the government should exercise its regulatory powers to promote competition.
Companies Invest in Startups to Repair Weaknesses
A study by Yale SOM’s Song Ma shows that companies tend to invest in startups when they are struggling, in order to gain access to innovation and shore up an area of weakness.
Three Questions: Prof. Vineet Kumar on Facebook’s Move into Cryptocurrency
On June 18, Facebook announced Libra, a new cryptocurrency intended to make it easy for individuals and companies to exchange payments anywhere in the world. We asked Prof. Vineet Kumar why a company that started by enabling people to share personal news is now building an alternative financial system.
