Owen Rust - Economics Online

Today, firms use massive sets of data just as they would any other factor of production.

Data as Capital: Rethinking the Factors of Production

Published on January 16, 2026

If AI software scans you and decides you want the product more than average, should it be able to charge you more money?

AI Price Discrimination and the End of the “Uniform Price”

Published on January 15, 2026

Today, the labor market is undergoing yet another evolution thanks to both applicants and hiring managers using AI.

Algorithmic Hiring and the New Labor Market Matching Function

Published on January 09, 2026

Digital Payments and the Vanishing Role of Cash

Digital Payments and the Vanishing Role of Cash

Published on January 09, 2026

Can customer reviews on Google, Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other sites replace the need for some government regulations?

Platform Ratings as Informal Regulation

Published on January 09, 2026

Today, most consumers get their digital entertainment through monthly subscriptions. Will this model last?

Subscription Economies and the Rebundling of Consumer Demand

Published on January 06, 2026

What would happen if sellers could use AI to determine how much you are willing and able to pay for every possible product?

The Economics of Hyper-Personalization: When Every Consumer Gets a Different Price

Published on December 24, 2025

Thanks to the ease of remote work with today's technology, do cities still enjoy an agglomeration advantage?

The Geography of Remote Work: Are Cities Losing Their Agglomeration Advantage?

Published on December 19, 2025

Instead of paying for Internet ads or TV commercials featuring celebrities, many firms are now using social media influencers to endorse products.

The Economics of Micro-Influencers: Reputation, Pricing, and Market Structure

Published on December 19, 2025

Most online systems today require users to verify their identity, which is part of Know Your Customer (KYC) protocol.

The Economics of Identity Verification: When KYC Becomes Infrastructure

Published on December 19, 2025