Read more
Written for a wide audience, from undergraduate and graduate students to citizens and activists, this book will teach you about how economics has influenced the digital technologies that we use every day. Most media textbooks won't tell you much about economic terms, concepts or principles; this book will explain to you the economic theory and history underpinning everything from advertising to computers, social networking sites and streaming services. With examples ranging from Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter to Amazon and the world of online shopping, Caraway offers a personal perspective about today's media technologies that will enrich your understanding of their technical, cultural, and social significance.
Providing a comprehensive introduction to the basics of economics and putting theory into practice, Caraway offers an expansive approach to media economics in action. The book includes:
- chapters on early economic thought and political economy
- a two-part overview of the foundations of economics
- a wide range of examples covering topics such as advertising, user-generated content and smartphones
The detail and depth of this book, with its up-to-date case studies and broad approach, makes it the essential introduction to economics for media students.
List of contents
Chapter 1: Introduction: Approaches to the Economics of ICTs
Chapter 2: Early Economic Thought
Chapter 3: Classical Political Economy
Chapter 4: Foundations in Economics Part 1
Chapter 5: Foundations in Economics Part 2
Chapter 6: Introduction to Media Economics
Chapter 7: Economic History of Modern Communication Networks
Chapter 8: Advertising
Chapter 9: Computers and Smartphones
Chapter 10: User-Generated Content
Chapter 11: Social Networking Sites
Chapter 12: Streaming Services
About the author
Brett Caraway obtained his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin before coming to the University of Toronto in 2012. He is an associate professor in their Institute of Communication, Culture, Information, & Technology (ICCIT) with a cross-appointment to the Institute for Management & Innovation (IMI). Caraway’s research has been published in prominent academic journals like Communication Theory, Environmental Communication, Information, Communication & Society, Media, Culture & Society, and the International Journal of Communication. He recently co-edited a book with Tracey Bowen entitled Visual Futures: Exploring the Past, Present, and Divergent Possibilities of Visual Practice.
Summary
Written for a wide audience, from undergraduate and graduate students to citizens and activists, this engaging text explains how economics can help us to better understand the development of digital technologies.
