These sessions emphasise discussion as an ideal style of learning. They provide opportunities for you to discuss the underlying ideas and consequences for the theories set out in the papers. Our intent is not to expect you to untangle the minutiae of complex economic models but to encourage you to appreciate the implications and thrust of the ideas and evidence that underpins them and to consider the consequences for policy and behaviour. We therefore expect you to read the book* from cover to cover, and to read (quickly) the research papers and other selected chapters to build up ideas of their intent and implications (see the syllabus).
(*Shapiro, C. & Varian, H. R. (1998) Information rules : a strategic guide to the network economy, Boston, Mass., Harvard Business School Press.)
Some of the sessions will also be driven with slides in the traditional lecture format. All of the readings, book chapters and books have been very carefully selected. They are paradigm changing exemplars, key contributions to transforming understanding and knowledge of the economic environments that imbricate and constitute aspects of digital goods and markets.
Our experience is that the Masters students at UCD really engage with the readings and really involve themselves in good discussions. We expect that you will continue and deepen this tradition.
