<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Helvetica;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Century Gothic";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
font-weight:bold;}
h2
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:18.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
font-weight:bold;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#2E74B5;
mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA;}
span.Heading2Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#2E74B5;
mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA;}
span.gmail-postreadtime
{mso-style-name:gmail-post__readtime;}
p.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-text-center, li.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-text-center, div.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-text-center
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_3723303963021485971gmail-text-center;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-image-caption, li.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-image-caption, div.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-image-caption
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_3723303963021485971gmail-image-caption;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-antenna
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_3723303963021485971gmail-antenna;}
span.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-antenna-text-indicator-inner
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_3723303963021485971gmail-antenna-text-indicator-inner;}
span.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-antenna-logo
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_3723303963021485971gmail-antenna-logo;}
span.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-antenna-summary-title
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_3723303963021485971gmail-antenna-summary-title;}
p.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-first-paragraph, li.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-first-paragraph, div.gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-first-paragraph
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_3723303963021485971gmail-first-paragraph;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.EmailStyle30
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:434517251;
mso-list-template-ids:-330658144;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:36.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:72.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:108.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:144.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:180.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:216.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:252.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:288.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:324.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:552010146;
mso-list-template-ids:-1183662036;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:36.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:72.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l1:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:108.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:144.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:180.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:216.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:252.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:288.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:324.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-ZA" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-right:solid #5F5F5F 1.0pt;padding:0cm 7.0pt 0cm 0cm;margin-left:-18.0pt;margin-right:6.7pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:4.45pt;margin-left:18.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:9.7pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;border:none;padding:0cm">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5F5F;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.95pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5F5F5F;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.95pt">10.19.18<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:4.45pt;margin-left:0cm;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:9.7pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5F5F;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.95pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5F5F5F;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.95pt"><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/section/pov"><span style="color:#5F5F5F;text-decoration:none">pov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<h1 style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0cm;mso-line-height-alt:33.0pt;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:40.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.6pt"><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90253465/should-we-break-up-the-tech-giants-not-if-you-ask-the-economists-who-take-money-from-them" title="Should we break up the tech giants? Not if you ask the economists who take money from them"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Should
we break up the tech giants? Not if you ask the economists who take money from them</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h2 style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:15.7pt;margin-left:0cm;line-height:15.0pt;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5F5F5F;letter-spacing:.1pt;font-weight:normal">This week’s FTC hearings on the growing power of companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google only included economists who have taken money, directly
and indirectly, from giant corporations that have a stake in the debate. <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="707" height="398" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_937,ar_16:9,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto,fl_lossy/wp-cms/uploads/2018/10/p-2-tech-giants.jpg" alt="Should we break up the tech giants? Not if you ask the economists who take money from them"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="border:none;border-bottom:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 13.0pt 0cm;margin-top:4.45pt;box-sizing:border-box">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:11.15pt"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.1pt">[Photos: Swillklitch/iStock; Flickr users:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/quintanomedia/41118893354/in/album-72157694588981641">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">Anthony Quintano</span></a>; <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vuhung/23811168542/in/photolist-CpnqCA-CrFcKT-Cpns9w-Ch7cCA-BuaoKh-CrFeJT-CrFr5i-BuaH2h-BuaFKE-BZxXnQ-BuhXnB-Bui5K2-Ch7sQE-CjoAEH-BTb5ca-BTbbza-Bui76t-CjoJTg-BZy8jU-BTbcsT-CpnUDA-BuaUQ7-CjoMUr-Ch7AgS-BZyfCm-Cpo4Ry-Cpo5BS-BTbtHZ-Bub83U-CrFNnP-BZyqeW-BuitvH-BTbApe-CrFUN4-CrFUcp-trCegf-wgbEa1-rMWhgX-oUgsLJ-oWgtpm-wVzTEE-xdd2dc-nPy7GS-o6USLb-o4WgWJ-oWipga-oDPfkP-oDPcwn-o4Qk2U-oWL9vi">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">Nguyen Hung Vu</span></a>; <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ervins_strauhmanis/9547580380/in/photostream">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">Ervins Strauhmanis</span></a>; <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlecitycouncil/39262177384/in/album-72157663151232297">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">Seattle City Council</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-right:30.0pt;box-sizing:border-box" id="gmail-social--90253465">
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0cm;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0cm;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0cm;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0cm;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom:13.45pt;box-sizing:border-box">
<p class="MsoNormal"><cite><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5F5F5F;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.95pt;font-style:normal">By Matt Stoller and Austin Frerick</span></b></cite><span class="gmail-postreadtime"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#231F20;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1.45pt">4
minute Read</span></span><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Amid growing concern over the power of such behemoths as Amazon, Google, Facebook, and other tech giants, in recent months there’s been a bipartisan push for better enforcement of antitrust rules–with
even President Trump saying in August that their size and influence could constitute a “very antitrust situation.” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched its most wide-ranging study of corporate concentration in America in more than 20 years with
a series of hearings being held around the country. Chairman Joseph Simons, a practical enforcement-minded leader, launched the hearings by expressing concern over the growing problem of monopoly, which is now found in nearly every sector of the economy. “I
approach all of these issues with a very open mind,” said Simons, “very much willing to be influenced by what I see and hear.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">But there’s a problem. The FTC organized these hearings so that Simons and the public would be hearing from many economists who have taken money, directly or indirectly, from giant corporations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">For example, on Monday, the FTC convened a panel titled
<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events-calendar/2018/10/ftc-hearing-3-competition-consumer-protection-21st-century">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">“The Current Economic Understanding of Multi-Sided Platforms”</span></a> to look specifically at the most dynamic and dangerous set of concentrated economic actors, the big tech platforms. Every single one of
the economists who testified had financial ties to giant corporations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">One example is David Evans, the chairman of the Global Economics Group. Evans scoffed at the danger of platform monopolies. He indicated that the question of “whether Facebook and Google and Amazon
are monopolies, it’s all interesting, it’s great to read in the <em><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">New York Times</span></em>,” but it’s “not all that relevant” to the practice of antitrust. (FF to 45:30 in the below video)
<a href="http://www.globaleconomicsgroup.com/cv/Evans%2520CV%2520August%25202015.pdf">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">His firm has taken money directly from Microsoft, Visa, the large investment bank SIFMA, and the Chinese giant tech giant Tencent.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><img border="0" id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://video.unrulymedia.com/native/images/in-art-close-icon-128x128-16481b937f87b244a645cdbef0d930f8.png"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="margin-left:13.5pt;margin-right:13.5pt;min-height:0px;min-width:0px;box-sizing:content-box;opacity:0.5">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:15.75pt">
<span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">–– ADVERTISEMENT ––<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Another example is Howard Shelanski, a partner at Davis Polk. Shelanski is more enforcement-minded, but he expressed caution, testifying that we don’t know enough for antitrust enforcers to understand
whether powerful technology companies hold unassailable market positions. Shelanski pointed to his own children, saying that they’ve stopped using Facebook because it’s uncool. (FF to 35:00). As it turns out,
<a href="https://hls.harvard.edu/content/uploads/2015/07/Davis-Polk.pdf"><span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">his law firm’s clients include Facebook, as well as Comcast, and Chinese search giant Baidu.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Evans and Shelanski are straightforward about their role; both are principals with clients. To bring in more neutral parties, the FTC also had economics professors from prestigious universities. But
these professors, while they do academic research, also have lucrative consulting arrangements with firms representing large corporations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">For instance, one panelist was MIT professor of management Catherine Tucker. She isn’t just a professor, though; she also
<a href="http://www.analysisgroup.com/experts-and-consultants/affiliated-experts/catherine-e--tucker/">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">moonlights</span></a> at the economic consulting firm Analysis Group,
<a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/mitsloan-php/wp-faculty/sites/54/2018/10/01132636/disclosure_ofpotentialconflicts.pdf">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">has consulted for Microsoft and Facebook</span></a>, and
<a href="https://www.googletransparencyproject.org/articles/google-academics-inc">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">has received a $155,000 research grant from Google</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Wharton Professor Katja Seim testified as well. She has a second job working for Vega Economics, which sells analysis to many of the major law firms in D.C., who in turn sell services to Fortune 500
companies. She stressed that one normal red flag for monopoly–“supra-normal” profit margins–should not necessarily concern regulators when it comes to tech platforms. (FF to 7:15-7:45).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Also testifying was Boston University economist Michael Salinger, who also works at Charles River Associates. Salinger
<a href="https://crainternationalinc.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/economists-charles-river-associates-cra-assist-google-closing">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">markets his services</span></a> on the website of the group as leading the economics team that helped Google shut down the FTC antitrust investigation. He told the FTC that American enforcers, as opposed to European
enforcers, thought about Google’s “innovation and product design” rather than its monopoly power. (FF to 27:00) His colleague at Boston University, economist Marc Rysman, has a side job at Cornerstone Research, a firm that worked on Google’s acquisition of
Admob and ITA. (FF to 4:45)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">For instance, the FTC invited University of California, Berkeley economist Joseph Farrell, who offered little, putting forward a classic “on the one hand,on the other hand” set of observations. Economists,
he concluded, should “look hard at these issues” and talk to people who are excited about them. Farrell has a side job at the economic consulting firm Bates White Consulting, a firm that has done work for, among others,
<a href="https://www.bateswhite.com/work-125.html"><span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">Comcast</span></a> and
<a href="https://www.bateswhite.com/work-31.html"><span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">AT&T</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">In other words, every single economist testifying on the issue of corporate concentration derived income, directly or indirectly, from large corporations. Beyond that,
<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/policy/hearings-competition-consumer-protection"><span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">the hearing itself</span></a> was held at the Antonin Scalia Law School, which is
<a href="https://masonlec.org/donors/"><span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">financed by Google and Amazon</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">This is a problem more broadly for the entire set of hearings, which included roughly 40 economists on the payroll of such consulting firms. For example, on a different panel on the state of antitrust
law was Dennis Carlton. A professor at the University of Chicago, Carlton <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/these-professors-make-more-than-thousand-bucks-hour-peddling-mega-mergers">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">has made over $100 million during his career moonlighting as an expert witness for giant corporations</span></a> through his work with economic consulting firm Compass Lexecon. Carlton told the FTC that we ought
to praise large firms like Facebook, Google, and Amazon for technological innovation, and
<a href="https://competition-consumer-protection-hearings.videoshowcase.net/the-state-of-u-s-antitrust-law-session-1">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">warned</span></a>, “don’t confuse success with an antitrust violation.” (hour 1:25:40)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Why is a college professor able to make a $100 million testifying on behalf of large corporations? As Jesse Eisinger and Justin Elliott at
<em><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">ProPublica</span></em> <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/these-professors-make-more-than-thousand-bucks-hour-peddling-mega-mergers">
<span style="color:#22458F;text-decoration:none">noted in their investigation of the industry</span></a>, “Companies & lawyers that rely on economists as witnesses aren’t looking for neutrality…. [Instead] to be able to be an advocate without seeming to be
an advocate.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:18.7pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">This is not to say that taking money from corporations is always wrong. It isn’t. It’s just that a diversity of perspectives matters. If we want to know why corporate monopolies are dominant, just
look at who the FTC is listening to. It isn’t you and me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Matt Stoller is a fellow at the Open Markets Institute. You can follow him on Twitter at @matthewstoller.</span></em><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Austin Frerick is a fellow at the Open Markets Institute. You can follow him on Twitter at @AustinFrerick</span></em><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 3:23 PM Ashraf Patel <<a href="mailto:baobabknowledge@gmail.com">baobabknowledge@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0cm">
<div>
<div>
<div style="margin-left:11.25pt;margin-right:11.25pt;box-sizing:border-box">
<div>
<div>
<h1 align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:96.75pt;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:96.75pt;text-align:center;line-height:29.7pt;background:white">
<span style="font-size:27.0pt;color:black;font-weight:normal">We all need to listen to the pleas of the music industry in our country<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div>
<div>
<p class="gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-text-center" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:center;background:white">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#535E64">By Vusi Mahlasela• 12 September 2018
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black"><img border="0" width="1290" height="752" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://37ugp72ofspp25ltkb3ajwvg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0305-e1536753471918-1600x932.jpg"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left:11.25pt;margin-right:11.25pt;box-sizing:border-box">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-image-caption" style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white">
<i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#535E64">Vusi Mahlasela performs after being awarded an honorary doctorate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, 12 September, 2018. Photo: courtesy of the University Less
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<div style="margin-bottom:10.5pt;border-radius:0px;display:inline-block;word-wrap:normal;min-height:0px;min-width:0px;max-width:840px;box-sizing:border-box;border-spacing:0px 0px;float:none;overflow:visible">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:9.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:middle">
<span class="gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-antenna-summary-title"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#EC1D23;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">1 Reaction</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#EC1D23"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-first-paragraph" style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:16.5pt;color:black">An honorary doctorate was conferred on Vusi Mahlasela by the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. He was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the betterment of South African society and to the global
music industry. This is an edited version of Mahlasela's acceptance speech. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black">“</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">If music be the food of love, play on,” says Orsino to Curio in William Shakespeare’s play,
<i>Twelfth Night</i>. Indeed, music is the food of love. Music excites the body. Music nourishes the soul. Music expands the brain. Music heals the sick. Music breeds and keeps together families, friends and communities. Music buries the dead. Music brings
hope, peace and reconciliation in times of wars. Music does all of these things, and more, in conditions of peace, tranquillity and plenty.
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">But, is music capable of doing these in our country, South Africa, which is considered the most unequal society in the world? How is it possible for music to do all these if artists themselves
die of hunger from exploitation – only to be remembered and celebrated by those who supposed to care for them, government in particular, when they are dead and given glowing obituaries plus, if fortunate, Special State Funerals? How are music lovers supposed
to buy the music when they are unemployed? How do those who are fortunate to buy music contribute to the welfare of musicians when they purchase counterfeits in the streets.
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Where is the law enforcement in this regard? I am certain that I am not the first to pose these difficult questions. They have been asked many times before, and I suspect the inquiry will
continue well into the future. But is anyone listening? Or perhaps should I say; who is supposed to listen? The answer is simply ALL OF US as a nation.
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Recently, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (the SABC) announced back payment of needle-time play of music on its channels to 2014. This initiative is welcomed, even though it raises
further questions like: is it not too late for the galaxy of musicians who were exploited throughout their careers and died before the cut-off period to enjoy the fruits of their craft? Why the cut-off date in the first instance? What informs it? What’s going
to happen to the royalties of the period before this? How much are musicians likely to make since the broadcaster, and all other media outlets in the country, are obsessed with playing overseas music? Just switch on the television set or radio today and you
will think you are in America or Europe. Whereas we recognise that we are part of a global society of nations, we must also be proud of our own local arts productions.
</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Controversies aside, the local music fraternity temporarily tasted a bit of Africa’s musical cake with the 90% local content playing quota. Now we are back to western cultural imposition
which indoctrinates the nation to doubt or despise itself. To its credit, though, the SABC has called for public submissions on its editorial policy review. Do we as musicians, music lovers, and the academia – particularly music-based faculties or department
– take time to make submissions in this regard to turn things around? </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Similarly, what is the take of the White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage, as the national cultural policy, on this matter and many others relevant to the livelihood of musicians? Frankly,
to say the least, South Africa’s cultural policy is an idealistic one size fits all for the arts. Yet for some considerable time, several African countries regarded music as the preferred cultural policy transmitter for the following reasons as stated by the
scholars Lebogang Nawa and Ndwamato Mugovhani in the article, <i>Music as implicit cultural policy instrument in South Africa:</i>A case study of musicians Sello Galane, Rudzani Colbert Mukwevho and Khakhathi Tshisikule” (2017: page 82).</span><span class="gmail-m3723303963021485971gmail-antenna"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">
</span></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">The choice of music as cultural policy leitmotif was not arbitrary. It was not done simply because it is music. The election was influenced by the respect and stature musicians enjoyed in
the society as well as the fact that -from a technical perspective – music is a courier or source of other artistic genres in that it inspires, shapes and broadcasts their formations and implementations. Furthermore, music’s reach is wide, its transmission
quick and economic incentives viable; it is also entertaining as it is also educational, especially for the youth who are lazy to spend time on other artistic genres like literature, drama and the fine arts. The insight above indeed proves that Shakespeare
was correct when he wrote: “If music be the food of love, play on.” </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:20.25pt;background:white;box-sizing:border-box">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Musicians can only cook, dish and enjoy this food themselves together with those for whom they create it in the first instance if given genuine opportunities when those who have the means
can – to use the pun – put their monies where their mouths are. On this note, I call upon all South Africans in the form of citizens, government, academia and business to invest in and support the arts in sustained, tangible and substantive manner.
<b><u>DM</u></b></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Fri, Jul 13, 2018 at 5:43 PM, Denise Nicholson <<a href="mailto:Denise.Nicholson@wits.ac.za" target="_blank">Denise.Nicholson@wits.ac.za</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0cm">
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">FYI - See: <a href="http://www.ip-watch.org/2018/07/13/deadline-next-week-comments-new-clauses-south-african-copyright-amendment-bill/" target="_blank">http://www.ip-watch.org/2018/07/13/deadline-next-week-comments-new-clauses-south-african-copyright-amendment-bill/</a><a href="http://www.ip-watch.org/2018/07/13/deadline-next-week-comments-new-clauses-south-african-copyright-amendment-bill/" target="_blank">http://www.ip-watch.org/2018/07/13/deadline-next-week-comments-new-clauses-south-african-copyright-amendment-bill/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Deadline for submissions on specific clauses - 18 JULY 2018. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Regards<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Denise<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">This communication is intended for the addressee only. It is confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately and destroy the original message. You may not copy or disseminate this communication
without the permission of the University. Only authorised signatories are competent to enter into agreements on behalf of the University and recipients are thus advised that the content of this message may not be legally binding on the University and may contain
the personal views and opinions of the author, which are not necessarily the views and opinions of The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All agreements between the University and outsiders are subject to South African Law unless the University
agrees in writing to the contrary.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
ASSAf Disclaimer: The views and opinions included in this email belong to their author and do not necessarily mirror the views and opinions of the organisation. Our employees are obliged not to make any defamatory statements, infringe, or authorise infringement
of any legal right. Therefore, the organisation will not accept any liability for such statements included in emails. In case of any damages or other liabilities arising, employees are fully responsible for the content of their emails.
</body>
</html>