Owen Rust - Economics Online

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) allow software on different devices and systems to talk to each other.

The Economics of API Ecosystems and Modular Innovation

Published on March 02, 2026

Content creators may seem independent and carefree, but almost all of them must heed the whims of large conglomerates.

Creator Economies and Monopsony Power

Published on February 27, 2026

Many websites moderate what speech users can post, raising debates about content moderation.

Platform Governance and Private Regulation

Published on February 27, 2026

Today, many subscribers of digital entertainment are discovering they must pay additional fees for premium content.

Subscription Fatigue and Two-Part Tariffs in the Digital Economy

Published on February 24, 2026

Today's workers may be less productive due to technological advances intended to distract them.

Attention as an Economic Resource

Published on February 21, 2026

Firms will soon be using AI modeling to determine their optimal level of output and pricing.

Algorithmic Collusion Without Communication

Published on February 20, 2026

When you are shopping online, is the seller using psychological tricks to manipulate you into buying more?

Dark Patterns and the Economics of Consumer Mistakes

Published on January 23, 2026

The high costs of data centers has limited the expansion of AI for now, creating an oligopoly market.

Compute Constraints and the New Economics of Scarcity in AI

Published on January 22, 2026

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, meaning our attention is a valuable asset to advertisers!

Attention Markets and the Economics of Time Scarcity

Published on January 18, 2026

When you purchase a new digital product, does your usage data from your old product transfer seamlessly to the new one?

Data Portability and Competition Policy in Digital Markets

Published on January 17, 2026