On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss Ends, Means, and Antitrust. Listen to it here.
June 2017
Google’s Precedent Problem, Five Stories In Brief
Leaving aside whether or not the European Commission decision is justifiable, it has been made, and Google has a big problem on its hands. Then, five stories in brief on Amazon, Ransomware, Blue Apron, Nintendo, and car rental companies.
Ends, Means, and Antitrust
Google is a monopoly, and almost certainly a bad actor: shopping, though, is a terrible example that shows how regulators can go wrong.
The Justin Caldbeck Affair; The Enablers; Avis, Hertz, Waymo, and Apple
A salute to Danny Sullivan, then a note on the Justin Caldbeck affair: he must be held accountable, but so must his enablers. Then, the changing structure of the car industry.
Mark Zuckerberg: Politician, not President, EU to Fine Google, Amazon Prime Wardrobe
Mark Zuckerberg may be acting like a politician, but I highly doubt he is running for President. Then, Google will be fined by the EU, and Amazon launched Prime Wardrobe
Exponent Podcast: Amazon and Avocados
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss Amazon’s New Customer. Listen to it here.
Bill Gurley Leaves Uber’s Board, Uber Adds Tipping, Chris Lattner Leaves Tesla
Bill Gurley ultimately believes in the Uber idea, and it probably cost both Kalanick and him their jobs. Then, why it’s a problem that Uber is adding tipping, plus the news that Chris Lattner is leaving Tesla.
Travis Kalanick Resigns, Uber’s Dangerous Delusion, Uber Going Forward
Travis Kalanick has resigned. His downfall came from a dangerous delusion that forgot what Uber represented; the way forward is about remembering.
Acquisitions and Network Effects, Antitrust and Network Effects, The Saga of Whole Foods
Acquisitions that make sense involve network effects; that is why the long-term future of antitrust is about network analysis (not that it will affect this deal). Plus, John Mackey’s pragmatic fit with Amazon.
Amazon’s New Customer
The key to understanding Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods is to understand that Amazon didn’t buy a retailer: the company bought a customer.