The Economics of Information: A Guide to Economic and Cost-Benefit Analysis for Information Professionals

(Paperback, 2nd edition)

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Description

This text clearly presents the fundamentals that users need in order to develop basic skills for simple cost-benefit analyses of goods and services. It provides students, librarians and information professionals with a useful introduction to economics and cost-benefit analysis, and it helps them make better financial and management decisions. The book covers cost analysis of information goods and services, benefit analysis, information as a public good, information externalities, intellectual property and monopolies, uncertainty and risk, pricing information, opportunity costs, access versus ownership, and the economics of the Internet and digital libraries. The author's clear explanations of economic terms and models are illustrated with examples from library services and information markets. In this edition, updated research and examples of economic principles have been incorporated, and there is an additional chapter on Internet economic and digital libraries. Designed as a text for classes on the economics of information, this work is also suitable for courses on information resource management, information policy and library management, and as a professional guide for interested practitioners.

Reviews

No other book presents these complicated topics in such an understandable fashion. This work is required reading for both new and experienced directors and department heads. It helps the reader understand the often confusing world of economics and applies it to the workplace. And, it will help you obtain the funding to implement new services for your patrons.-Journal of Academic Librarianship
This book should be read by anyone in library management and ought to appear on the recommended reading list of every graduate program in information science.-Journal of Access Services
While primarily targeted to classes on the economics of information, the well-written text, extensive bibliography, and thorough index make this book valuable to information professionals outside of the classroom who are faced with making hard decisions and justifying them to constitutents and upper management.-Business Information Alert
"This book should be read by anyone in library management and ought to appear on the recommended reading list of every graduate program in information science."-Journal of Access Services
"While primarily targeted to classes on the economics of information, the well-written text, extensive bibliography, and thorough index make this book valuable to information professionals outside of the classroom who are faced with making hard decisions and justifying them to constitutents and upper management."-Business Information Alert
"No other book presents these complicated topics in such an understandable fashion. This work is required reading for both new and experienced directors and department heads. It helps the reader understand the often confusing world of economics and applies it to the workplace. And, it will help you obtain the funding to implement new services for your patrons."-Journal of Academic Librarianship

Author Bio

BRUCE R. KINGMA is Associate Professor, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University.