Digital Revolution

Digital technology makes finding matches in markets much easier. The proliferation of freelancing is a example. The picture is not all bright, however, as total supply far exceeds total demand, and customers are in trouble of finding competent freelancers to do the job. Nonetheless, doing business with freelancers remains a interesting experience, for it brings a lot of freshness and new ideas. Often, students without much access to market try to improve their own status by freelancing. It's not hard to find a bargain and novelty. There are several types of freelancers to avoid. Some are totally dishonest and lazy that the reason they are freelancing is incompetence. Some don't respect customers' time and money. Some try to charge outrageous prices with low ability. Fortunately, traces of inappropriate freelancers are often transparent in communication, though they waste time. Free freelancing web sites underperform paid ones in Taiwan, which is a puzzle. Markets with highe...

In the beginning, social networks hold high hopes of enhancing human relationships. Friends and families far apart can easily share photographs, status updates, and whatever intrigues instantly. Events can easily find participants with detailed information. Even corporations may benefit from continuous CRM. However, market power has driven dominant social networks into degradation. Facebook and Instagram became ad readers. Twitter became a political hack. Only Stack Exchange and the likes remain true to the purpose. It's tasteless to trade greatness for more profit, but market measures success by exchange value, not use value. It seems tech regulation should be more focused on bringing better value to users, rather than destructive Apple bashing. However, doing so requires politicians to transition from capitalist exchange value calculus to socialist use value calculus. Who dare to be a socialist in USA? Facebook as a ad reader is worse than its algorithmic manipulation of user co...

Globalisation is non-trivial, especially for the computer and digital industry. Ordinary small businesses likely experienced the benefits and drawbacks of outsourcing to freelancers through the Internet. For example, decent graphic design can be obtained at very low cost due to intense competition the digital platform offers. On the other hand, Internet freelancers often lack depth of specialized expert agencies and can not accomplish cases like complex marketing integration. However, the big players are oligopolies. Is there a reason why the computer and digital industry often forms global value chains? Consider iPhones. Apple worked with TSMC to build its SoC, and TSMC worked with machine vendors around the world to complete semiconductor manufacturing process. The reason is simple. Technological specialization and expertise are scattered around the world that no nation can compete on its own for excellence. Krugman put the case of globalisation as a race between transportation and ...