Follow the rubric at the bottom precisely, please do not miss any points. The prompt is written below. Also, you must refer to ALL three linked sources below with quotes.
https://mises.org/library/myth-just-price
https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/ronald-coase-and-the-misuse-of-economics
Position Paper Prompt:
Antitrust law in the United States has been characterized as “a blunt-force weapon” that has come to consider reductions in competition (such as Facebook acquiring Instagram) through these reductions’ effect on consumer prices. Yet the “tech giants” (like Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Apple) charge significantly different “prices” to different users of their services. App developers, advertisers, and third-party sellers pay hefty sums to these “tech giants”, while ordinary users pay little to nothing, at least in financial terms. Nonetheless, the market power of these companies is undeniable, to where some argue more government regulation is needed. Some go even further, and argue for breaking up the “tech giants” altogether. Others argue that a more laissez-faire approach is best, whether due to the unintended consequences of regulation, or because the benefits these companies bring consumers exceed the companies’ anti-competitive profits.
Imagine that you are the newly hired CEO of Amazon following Bezos’ retirement to pursue his outer space ambitions. One of your first issues surrounds the stance Amazon lobbyists should take in Washington D.C. regarding the future regulation of Amazon’s market power. AS THE NEW CEO OF THE COMPANY, WHAT POSITION DO YOU TAKE WITH RESPECT TO THE GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF AMAZON’S MARKET POWER? (Should Amazon be broken up?; Should Amazon’s possible anti-competitive effects be better regulated (and how)?; Should the government just let Amazon keep doing its (awesome) thing with minimal interference?; Should Amazon’s competitors be regulated instead?) Keep in mind that your position on this matter will implicate the interests of Amazon shareholders, Amazon employees, Amazon sellers, Amazon customers, and the American public writ large in distinct and cross-cutting ways, such that you should be sure to consider at least some of these distinct groups in your analysis.
Your position statement submission is limited to 300 words in length.
CURRENT EVENT NOMINATION
Please nominate another current event (not the push to regulate or break up big tech) using a quick one or two sentence statement and/or web page link highlighting a current event and its connection to the module’s topics of Competition and Monopoly. Note that the course’s library page Links to an external site. has instructions for gaining free access to both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Those and The Economist are frequently reliable resources for quickly locating current event nominations – some reading will be involved, however!
Rubric
Position Statement & Current Event Nomination Rubric
Position Statement & Current Event Nomination Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePosition articulation and supporting arguments
Does the position statement’s author clearly articulate a position on the subject along with the author’s rationale for advocating the position?
6 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeRelevant interpretation and use of assigned readings and course experiences
In supporting the position, does the author incorporate the current module’s assigned readings and course experiences? Where appropriate, does the author draw on connections to other module’s readings and experiences?
6 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDrawbacks, caveats and likely opposing arguments
Does the position statement’s author include a relevant discussion of the position’s drawbacks, caveats and likely opposing arguments in a way that contributse to the author’s credibility regarding the advocated position?
6 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeRelevance and clarity of the current event nomination
Does nomination succintly connect the nominated current event to the current module’s topic, readings, and experiences?
6 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeGrammar and punctuation
Does the submitted position statement and/or current event nomination distract the reader due to multiple incidents of improper grammar and/or punctuation?
1 pts
Total Points: 25
