February 2019 - John Heaven

Birds on the wire

Regulating against network effects: six ideas

Governments are right to be concerned about network effects, in particular the threat to competition. However, network effects often result from a captive user base and sensitive data. These require a new approach to ensure a level playing field.

Some balloons

In praise of overblown promises

If you’re like me, you can’t stand adverts whose promises outstrip their products, sales people whose pitch doesn’t withstand the gentlest prod with a few sharp questions, or politicians who promise the earth but leave the planet when the time comes to deliver. However, for better or for worse, we wouldn’t be where we are…