Cost Of Information Dissemination Research Articles

Information and Industry Dynamics

This paper develops a model of industry dynamics where firms compete to acquire customers over time by disseminating information about themselves in the presence of random shocks to their efficiency. The properties of the model's stationary equilibrium are related to empirical regularities on firm and industry dynamics. As an application of the model, the effects of a decline in the cost of information dissemination on firm and industry dynamics are explored. (JEL D11, D83, L11, L81, M37)

Information and Industry Dynamics

This paper develops a dynamic industry model in which firms compete to acquire customers over time by disseminating information about themselves under the presence of random shocks to their efficiency. The properties of the model’s stationary equilibrium are related to empirical regularities on firm and industry dynamics. As an application of the model, the effects of a decline in the cost of information dissemination on firm and industry dynamics are explored.

Earthview Digital Library

abstract“Developing a Video Digital Library System for Public Environment Education in China Based on Grid Technology” was a project granted by IDRC (Grant No. ISA/015.40.9.3) and carried out by Beijing Earthview Environment Education and Research Centre (Earthview) in cooperation with the Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ICT) from December 2002 to June 2004. The outcome of the project was the successful launch of Earthview Digital Library on 5 June 2004, the World Environment Day. This library provides online service with audio-visual materials free of charge to the public and has the information storage of more than 600 video films, 2,000 images and 1,000 text files in the Chinese language on issues of environment protection and sustainable development. After one year of operation from June 2004 to May 2005, the usage analysis shows that online downloading of video films from this library reached more than four thousand and the service covered 29 provinces across China. University teachers and students composed of 40 per cent of the user population. Data analysis shows that at least 77 universities and colleges located in 38 cities in China have become regular users of this digital library. With this operational practice, we can conclude that the objectives of the project—to enlarge the audience scope, to decrease the cost of information dissemination, and to speed up the material distribution service—designed to facilitate access of the Chinese people to multimedia material, especially video, on environment education, have been fully achieved.

Ways to think about user fees for federal information products

Abstract With budget cuts looming, Federal agencies are revisiting user fees for information products. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 provides for user fees no higher than the cost of information dissemination. Federal agencies are enjoined from making a profit on their information products and permitted only to recover costs. The real question is how much value agencies should add to their information strictly for the public's use. Practical considerations such as the administrative costs of fees and legal authority to receive revenues condition an agency's decision to begin user fees. Various factors such as allowable costs and differential pricing must be considered in computing users' fees. The author suggests an action strategy for agencies contemplating information user fees and concludes that coming budget cuts will lead to increased employment of user fees by Federal agencies.

CDROM: dramatic key to information dissemination and use

Optical publishing will become very widespread in the next few years because it dramatically lowers the cost of information dissemination and use. Libraries and other professional users of information will be the first to use this new technology. This paper provides an overview of why optical publishing will make such an impact. In addition it poses and answers many of the questions which are most frequently asked about this technology and its use.