Interview with John Irons of the Mining Company
The Economics of Networks: Interview with N. Economides
Part 1
Dateline: 3/30/98
Intro | Part 1:
On Networks
| Part 2: On Networked Industries and Market Structure
| Part3: On Policy and Microsoft
On networks in general
Q: |
First it would be nice to clarify a couple of definitions. What
are the defining characteristics of a network? |
Networks are composed of links that connect nodes. It is inherent in
the structure of a network that many components of a network are required
for the provision of a typical service. Thus, network components are complementary
to each other. Typically a number of components are required to produce
a service. These components may be produced by different networks. For
example, a telephone call from New York City to San Francisco starts over
the circuits of New York Telephone (Bell Atlantic) until it reaches a local
switch in New York City, wherefrom it is picked up and carried by a long
distance company (such as AT&T) to a similar switch of Pacific Bell
(SBC) in San Francisco. Then Pacific Bell carries it to the San Francisco
subscriber. So, the call requires the use of the circuits of New York Telephone,
AT&T, and PacBell, and (at least) two switches. These are all complementary
components of the network. See the example of the
information superhighway.
Typical examples of networks are telecommunications networks (fixed
and wireless), fax networks, credit card networks, ATM networks, railroads,
electricity networks, etc. Network features, including the existence of
"network externalities" (see below), are discussed in more detail in "The
Economics of Networks".
Q: |
And what are network externalities? |
Networks exhibit positive consumption and production externalities.
A positive consumption externality (or "network externality") signifies
the fact that the value of a unit of the good increases with the expected
number of units to be sold.
Q: |
How do network externalities arise? Please give examples. |
Network externalities can arise directly or indirectly. For example,
in a typical telecommunications network with n subscribers, the
addition of the (n+1)th subscriber allows for 2n
additional types of calls to be made (from the new subscriber to all old
subscribers and vice versa). Clearly, the number of additional calls (2n)
that become possible when the (n+1)th customer is added
increases with the size of the network n. If each of the calls has
a fixed value, it is clear that the value of adding one more customer increases
as the network size (n) increases. This is an example of a direct
network externality.
Network externalities arise directly in telecommunications and fax networks
as well as in the internet, financial exchange (stock market), credit card,
and ATM networks. Network externalities also arise in "virtual networks"
where two complementary components are required to make a valuable good
or service. Typical examples of virtual networks are the combination of
compatible software and hardware, or the combination of a computer operating
system ("OS") and applications software that run under the OS. In these
cases, the value of an operating system is higher when there is a large
number of applications that can run under it. Conversely, an application
has higher value if it runs on a widely-accepted OS. The combination of
these effects makes the value that a consumer receives from an OS higher
when the sales of the OS are higher. Similar reasoning shows the existence
of network externalities in any good that requires a distribution or a
repair network, or, more generally, requires a complementary good.
Q: |
It seems that many industries exhibit network externalities. Where
are network externalities crucial? |
Some products have no value if there is no network. For example, a
fax machine is useless unless there exists another fax machine to communicate
with. In contrast, a computer program, say WordPerfect, has value even
if no one else bought it. Its value increases with the number of users
(because this enhances the availability of in-house technical support and
the availability of secretaries trained in WordPerfect), so there are network
externalities, but this may not be the most important determining factor
of the value of the program.
Q: |
Do you think that the importance of networked goods and network
industries in the economy is growing? |
Network industries and network goods are a very significant part of
the US and world economy since they encompass key industries, including
telecommunications, computers, electricity, and transportation. These industries,
especially computers and telecommunications are growing very fast. They
are driven by the steep reductions in the costs of integrated circuits,
the progressive digitization of many functions, and the wider use of programmable
multi-purpose devices. Network industries are expected to continue growing
at a faster pace than the US economy.
Q: |
How will the workings of the economy begin to change in response
to the increasing expansion of network industries? |
Some of the changes are already here. The World Wide Web has completely
transformed the information industry. Information retrieval and information
gathering and mining have become much easier. Multiparty communication,
chat, conferencing etc., although feasible earlier, became widely available
through the web. From a social point of view, the World Wide Web is especially
useful in bringing together individuals around the world that share a common
interest. The WWW also facilitates trade. Although electronic commerce
is still at its infancy, distribution of books, music CDs, software, as
well as securities trading have taken off with significant success. Interactive
selling is just starting. Customers already have the ability of get live
simultaneous offers on automobile loans by different firms on the web.
There is an increasing competitive pressure for better price and higher
efficiency.
As more information becomes available to the average household, the
deciphering of what is important and relevant becomes increasingly difficult.
The need for services that make selections for users (or, alternatively,
facilitate users' search) is ever more important. I expect that some of
the most profitable businesses on the web will be those that guide customers
to information. There is much to be done in this direction. Despite the
good efforts of Yahoo, there are still no authoritative "yellow pages"
on the web.
Changes in network industries require more flexibility by industry.
The response of some traditional industry players to change is sometimes
far from in tune with the times. For example, the demand for telecommunications
services is currently much higher than ever envisioned, partly because
of internet use. But as more households demand a second or third telephone
line, traditional local telephone companies (for example, Pacific Bell
in California) complain that callers stay too long on line. Companies have
to adjust to the times!
In the telecommunications sector, the Telecommunications Act of 1996
was been a brave attempt by Congress to bring the legal framework of the
telecommunications industry closer to a natural competitive environment
as shaped by rapid technological change. A key provision of the 1996 Act
was the facilitation of entry in the local market, which is presently dominated
by the local telephone companies that emerged from the 1984 breakup of
AT&T, and by GTE. Each of these companies is a monopolist in its local
market. Unfortunately, over two years after the passing of the 1996 Act,
armies of lawyers of the incumbent monopolists have fought against entry
in the local market, and very little entry has been realized, to the great
detriment of consumers.
Intro |
Part 1: On Networks
| Part 2: On Networked Industries and Market Structure
| Part 3: On Policy and Microsoft
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