The Future of Peer to Peer Technology

Michael D. Smith, Assistant Professor of Information Technology, was a panelist at the Federal Trade Commissions conference on Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Technology in December. Professor Smith's topic was The Future of P2P Technology: Effects on Efficiency and Competition.

Smith's research relates to the nature of structure and competition in electronic markets and facilitating efficient information exchange online. He has worked on questions relating to the efficiency of Internet markets, sources of competitive advantage online, customer behavior at Internet shopbots, and the role of positive and negative network effects in optimal network size in peer-to-peer networks.