Technology & Innovation

“‘The average American doesn’t realize how much of the laws are written by lobbyists’ to protect incumbent interests, Google CEO Eric Schmidt told Atlantic editor James Bennet.”

“Anyone with a video camera and some talent has the chance to reach millions; many budding producers want to talk about brands—whether or not brands want them to.”

“Last week, the FCC adopted a regulation that could dramatically improve our wireless devices. The rule offered a much-improved slice of the radio space for unlicensed use.”

The U.S. Census Bureau has released a report this week which finds that the marriage rate, for people between the ages of 25 and 34, is down once again.

“I don’t like failure,” says Robert Sutton, professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University. “It’s a terrible thing. I wish it wasn’t necessary, but I can’t figure out any other […]

“People are going to look at you and they’re going to ask you know a very interesting question, ‘Why should I follow you?’,” says Jeffrey Pfeffer, professor of organizational behavior […]

“A family of four in the U.S. have put themselves up for sale offering to advertise companies for $2 a day.” The Telegraph reports on the self-named ‘Billboard-family’.

“Two new studies suggest that Twitter isn’t exactly a font of credibility as viewed by the general public.” Many users do not hold information from the site in high regard.

A court in Canada has ruled that prostitution is legal. But will decriminalization get sex workers off the streets or make their profession safer?

It is an ongoing myth you need to write short, pithy posts. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you wish to tell deeper stories, do it, says Adam Singer.

“To fix the U.S.-China trade imbalance, new initiatives are needed to encourage Americans to save more and Chinese to spend more.”

Condemned by cyperspace for unmasking a civil servant blogger, ‘The Australian’ newspaper defends itself: It was a good story and he deserved no special treatment.

“The 400 richest Americans are worth almost $1.4 trillion, while record numbers join the poverty rolls and Democrats punt the tax-cut vote.” Robert Reich on wealth disparity.

“European Union officials are furious with a new US fee mandatory for most travelers from Europe. The EU is now considering introducing a similar fee for American travelers.”

Did Harvard Business School contribute to the financial crisis that stunned the world for the past few years? Former dean Jay Light says it’s possible that HBS—and business schools generally—may […]

“The platforms of social media are built around weak ties. Twitter is a way of following (or being followed by) people you may never have met.”

“New energy technologies blossom when oil gets expensive. We can raise the price of fossil fuels again without hurting consumers—if we implement a fee and rebate system.”

When the price of a high-quality wife—the type who will produce high-quality children—is high then polygyny becomes less affordable for high-income men. Monogamy emerges because of the increasing value of high-quality women in the marriage market.

“Women’s relatively rapid rise seems to have become unexpectedly entwined with patriotism—proof of this country’s belief in fairness, equality, upward mobility.”

“Congress wants to weaken the buck against China’s currency, and a broader devaluation could help the Federal Reserve stave off deflation pressures.”

“Intellectual property law should protect businesses, but too often can be used to stifle the spread of ideas.” The Mises Economic blog on copyright sensibility, or lack thereof.

“The world will soon get to know a lot more about the low-profile billionaire, or at least Hollywood’s version of him.” A film based on Mark Zuckerberg opens Friday in New York.

“Now management science looks set for a thorough, biology-inspired overhaul. Expect plenty more lab coats in business-school corridors.” The Economist on behavioral science.

“Economists may think of growth as endless, but the fact is that the Earth is finite, and sooner or later, as the human population soars towards nine billion, limits will be reached.”

“Nations laid out their claims to territory in the polar North yesterday and the vast untapped mineral wealth that lies under the Arctic Ocean.” The Independent reports.

Business and economics, not technology, are the real keys to progress in the energy frontier, says Department of Energy Under Secretary Steven Koonin.

“Narcissists, new experiments show, are great at convincing others that their ideas are creative even though they’re just average.” Science on business and self-love.

“The only policy technique that has a shot [at increasing demand] is tax cuts—specifically cuts on the consumer side, since that would target the weak demand affecting businesses.”

A proposed international Internet treaty “would enshrine in law the founding principles of open standards and net neutrality, and protect the web from political interference.”

“These days many companies are obsessed with fun.” The Economist laments employers who spread the idea of having fun at work like a disgusting disease.