Proposals to increase regulation of mobile wireless services, for example, by applying “net neutrality" regulation, are often based on claims that such regulation would enhance innovation and increase consumer choice. In fact, they would have the opposite effect. The business practices that would be banned by such regulation are efficient mechanisms for spreading and reducing risk, lowering transactions costs, and enhancing marketing activities, all of which contribute to innovation and choice. Moreover, product differentiation increases competition and thus contributes both directly and indirectly to consumer choice. While some types of exclusive agreements and other “discriminatory" practices can theoretically harm competition, the precondition for such harm to occur – i.e., market power in one or more of the affected markets – generally is not present in wireless markets. Hence, the proposed regulations cannot be justified on grounds of market failure. Rather than increasing innovation and consumer choice, as promised, they would severely disrupt the wireless sector's highly successful business model and significantly reduce innovation and consumer choice.

A variety of analyses concerning the natural gas market and the economy, and their reactions to change in gas prices, have been produced by government agencies, academic researchers, and consumer and industry groups. These analyses often display conflicting results because of their choices of perspective and assumptions. In response to a request from the House Subcommittee on Fossil and Synthetic Fuels, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) prepared this background report, which provides a conceptual framework for understanding the energy market and economic effects of changes in natural gas pricing policy. This framework allows a comparison of the various analyses of price changes. The report makes no recommendations. 7 footnotes and references, 1 figure, 4 tables

OPEC ReviewVolume 4, Issue 4 p. 97-121 STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN OPEC MEMBER COUNTRY PRODUCTION DECISIONS Everett M. Ehrlich, Everett M. Ehrlich Principal Andyst Natural Resources and Commerce Division United States Congressional Budget Office Washington, D.C.*Search for more papers by this author Everett M. Ehrlich, Everett M. Ehrlich Principal Andyst Natural Resources and Commerce Division United States Congressional Budget Office Washington, D.C.*Search for more papers by this author First published: December 1980 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0076.1980.tb00104.x *Organization affiliation for identification purposes only. The author is indebted to Fereidun Fesharaki, Stephan Michelson of Econometric Research, Inc., Robin Hahnel, and many members of the Natural Resources and Commerce Division of the United States Congressional Budget Office for their comments and criticism. Stefan Silverman provided computer assistance. (July 1980). AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume4, Issue4December 1980Pages 97-121 RelatedInformation