Economists' Statement on Network Neutrality Policy

7 Pages Posted: 28 Mar 2007

See all articles by William J. Baumol

William J. Baumol

New York University - Stern School of Business, Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies; Leonard N. Stern School of Business - Department of Economics

Robert E. Litan

Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) - Council on Foreign Relations- Washington D.C.

Martin E. Cave

University of Warwick - Warwick Business School; Brunel University London

Peter Cramton

University of Maryland - Department of Economics

Robert W. Hahn

Technology Policy Institute; University of Oxford, Smith School

Thomas W. Hazlett

Clemson University

Paul L. Joskow

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Department of Economics

Alfred E. Kahn

National Economic Research Associates Inc. (NERA) (Deceased)

John W. Mayo

Georgetown University - McDonough School of Business

Patrick A. Messerlin

Groupe d'Economie Mondiale at Sciences Po (GEM Paris)

Bruce M. Owen

Stanford University

Robert S. Pindyck

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Vernon L. Smith

Chapman University - Economic Science Institute; Chapman University School of Law

Scott Wallsten

Technology Policy Institute

Leonard Waverman

London Business School

Lawrence J. White

Stern School of Business, New York University; New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics

Scott Savage

University of Colorado at Boulder - Department of Economics

Date Written: March 2007

Abstract

Network neutrality is a policy proposal that would regulate how network providers manage and price the use of their networks. Congress has introduced several bills on network neutrality. Proposed legislation generally would mandate that Internet service providers exercise no control over the content that flows over their lines and would bar providers from charging more for preferentially faster access to the Internet. These proposals must be considered carefully in light of the underlying economics. Our basic concern is that most proposals aimed at implementing net neutrality are likely to do more harm than good.

Keywords: network neutrality, legislation, economics

JEL Classification: H00

Suggested Citation

Baumol, William J. and Litan, Robert E. and Cave, Martin E. and Cramton, Peter C. and Hahn, Robert W. and Hazlett, Thomas W. and Joskow, Paul L. and Kahn, Alfred E. and Mayo, John W. and Messerlin, Patrick A. and Owen, Bruce M. and Pindyck, Robert S. and Smith, Vernon L. and Wallsten, Scott and Waverman, Leonard and White, Lawrence J. and White, Lawrence J. and Savage, Scott, Economists' Statement on Network Neutrality Policy (March 2007). AEI-Brookings Joint Center Working Paper No. RP07-08, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=976889 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.976889

William J. Baumol (Contact Author)

New York University - Stern School of Business, Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies ( email )

New York, NY
United States
212-998-8943 (Phone)
212-995-3932 (Fax)

Leonard N. Stern School of Business - Department of Economics

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New York, NY 10003
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Robert E. Litan

Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) - Council on Foreign Relations- Washington D.C. ( email )

1777 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
United States

Martin E. Cave

University of Warwick - Warwick Business School ( email )

Centre for Management under Regulation (CMuR)
Coventry CV4 7AL
United Kingdom

Brunel University London

Kingston Lane
Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH
United Kingdom

Peter C. Cramton

University of Maryland - Department of Economics ( email )

College Park, MD 20742
United States
301-405-6987 (Phone)
301-405-3542 (Fax)

Robert W. Hahn

Technology Policy Institute ( email )

1401 Eye St. NW
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Washington, DC 20005
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University of Oxford, Smith School ( email )

Oxford
United Kingdom

Thomas W. Hazlett

Clemson University ( email )

Clemson, SC 29634
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8646564192 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://hazlett.people.clemson.edu/

Paul L. Joskow

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation ( email )

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Department of Economics ( email )

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Alfred E. Kahn

National Economic Research Associates Inc. (NERA) (Deceased)

John W. Mayo

Georgetown University - McDonough School of Business ( email )

3700 O Street, NW
Washington, DC 20057
United States
(202) 687-6972 (Phone)
(202) 687-7310 (Fax)

Patrick A. Messerlin

Groupe d'Economie Mondiale at Sciences Po (GEM Paris) ( email )

197 Boulevard Saint Germain
197 Bd St Germain Paris 75007, 75007
France

Bruce M. Owen

Stanford University ( email )

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Stanford, CA 94305-6015
United States

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Robert S. Pindyck

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management ( email )

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United States
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HOME PAGE: http://web.mit.edu/rpindyck/www/

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Cambridge, MA 02138
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HOME PAGE: http://www.nber.org

Vernon L. Smith

Chapman University - Economic Science Institute ( email )

1 University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
United States
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Chapman University School of Law ( email )

One University Drive
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Scott Wallsten

Technology Policy Institute ( email )

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Ste 700
Washington, DC 20024
United States
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HOME PAGE: http://www.wallsten.net

Leonard Waverman

London Business School ( email )

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Regent's Park
London, London NW1 4SA
United Kingdom

Lawrence J. White

New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics ( email )

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New York, NY NY 10012
United States

Stern School of Business, New York University ( email )

44 West 4th Street
New York, NY 10012
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212-995-4218 (Fax)

Scott Savage

University of Colorado at Boulder - Department of Economics ( email )

Campus Box 256
Boulder, CO 80309
United States
303-735-1165 (Phone)
303-492-1112 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://holiday.colorado.edu/savages/

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