GOVT 30.03 Political Economy in the Age of Google
This course explores the shifting relationship between private corporations and government policy in the networked world. As advanced technologies reshape business architectures and transform the terms of competition, the actions of government agencies must change correspondingly. We shall analyze the knowledge economy in microcosm—especially evolving network effects—and ask the urgent questions. What public infrastructure and standards are necessary to facilitate growth? What are the limits of established notions of intellectual property—patents, for example? What new metrics might be used to account for corporate performance and valuable assets? What are the implications of peer networks for the delivery of the services—from healthcare to education—that citizens have come to expect in a democracy?
Instructor
Avishai