PRESENTATION

The main assignment in this course is to create a presentation on some aspect of the Economics of Information.  (You will work with one other class member to create this presentation.)  The idea is that, through these presentations, we will all get an even broader exposure to the field than the assigned readings provide.  These presentations will be posted on assigned dates during the last few weeks of the semester.

There are a couple of possibilities for this assignment.  First, you can do a more in-depth investigation of some topic in the economics of information that is covered only briefly on the syllabus.  Second, you can investigate some topic that is not covered on the syllabus.  Either way, you will need to find references that go beyond those cited on the syllabus.  Finally, in addition to focusing on a particular topic in the economics of information, your presentation should explore how this particular topic impacts information services (e.g., libraries).

Note: With regard to this final point, here is an example of what I have in mind:  In Information Rules, Shapiro and Varian discuss the phenomenon of lock-in.  A consumer has been locked-in by a supplier if she faces significant costs if she wants to switch to a new supplier.  For example, she might have to spend a lot of money training employees to use this new product.  Also, she might have to spend a lot of money to make the rest of her system compatible with this new product.  As Shapiro and Varian point out, lock-in is something that any consumer of information (or of information technology) faces.  However, a presentation on this topic should (among other things) discuss how lock-in affects information services in particular.  For example, with regard to which information goods (e.g., databases, journals, OPACs) is a library most susceptible to lock-in?

There are a number of sources that you can turn to as you look for possible topics (and for literature on the topic that you choose).  First, the Kingma text has a very extensive bibliography of articles on the economics of information.  Many of these articles look specifically at how the economics of information impacts information services.  In addition, you might want to look at Library Literature, Library and Information Science Abstracts, EconLit, and the links on Varian’s web site on “The Information Economy.”

Details

You will work in groups of two on these presentations.  You will have a chance to meet face-to-face and form groups at the first weekend session.  But I have also set up a “Forming Groups” discussion forum to facilitate the formation of these groups.  So, you could form a group by, for example, sending a message expressing your interest in a particular topic and asking if anyone else has a similar interest.

The final online presentations will be hosted on WebCT. You should think of your presentation as your own virtual lecture. Among other things, this means that you should respond to questions and comments about your presentation. In fact, as part of the presentation grade, you must post a question or a comment about at least three of the other presentations.

Let me know when you have formed a group and I will create web space for your group in the “Presentations” area. This is where the presentations will be posted.  In addition, I will create a public discussion forum for the class to discuss your group’s presentation.

You should to choose a topic no later than the second weekend session. You will need to get my approval on your topic.

The presentations will be posted in the "Presentations" area. Each group will post their presentation on a different day. The presentation must be posted by midnight MST on the designated day. Thus, the rest of the class will be able to access their presentation on the following day.

You can sign up for any of the following dates: November 14, November 17, November 19, November 21, November 24, December 1, December 3, December 5, December 8.  Once you have consulted with the other member of your group, one of you should send me a message via WebCT Mail with at least a couple of possible dates.  I will try to accommodate everyone’s preferences as well as I can.

You should contact Anna Lash if you have any technical problems posting your presentation to WebCT.

You can send me questions about this assignment via the "Presentation Questions" forum or via my WebCT Mail.