Biography
Research
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Joseph P. Bailey Research Associate Professor Decision & Information Technologies The Robert H. Smith School of Business University of Maryland 4315 Van Munching Hall College Park, MD 20742-1815 301-405-2174 jbailey@rhsmith.umd.edu |
Research
I am exploring issues in telecommunications, economics, and public policy of new information infrastructures with specific emphasis on the Internet. I wish to determine which public policies, technologies, and market opportunities exist to reap the benefits of interoperability. My Ph.D. thesis focused on Internet commerce to determine the effects an interoperable infrastructure has on markets for several goods: compact discs, software, and books. This work specifically examines the role of an intermediary or "cybermediary" in Internet commerce transactions to determine how such an intermediary can reduce market friction and promote interoperability. The role of regulation and other forms of government intervention as an intermediary is of particular interest.
Beyond the Internet commerce research, I have and will continue to explore interoperability at other layers. I am interested in finding ways for networks to converge and interoperate across industry boundaries to assess benefits and determine the effects of deregulating information infrastructure. To extend the static questions of interoperability into more dynamic questions, I hope to determine how interoperability can become a foundation for further technical, policy, and market development. In particular, promises of advanced services seem technically feasible but may not be consistent with policy and economic development. I am a co-author on a paper that has recently been accepted for the Global Networking 1997 Conference which examines the concept of a "bearer service" layer to promote interoperability but avoid the pitfalls of a natural monopoly.
The Internet is an interesting manifestation of interoperability concepts, so I plan on furthering my research efforts on Internet Economics. While founded on principles of interoperability, the Internet has evolved beyond the best effort service and flat-rate pricing with government funding paradigm to an environment with integrated services, usage-sensitive pricing, and private financing. By exploring the policy, technology, and economic issues simultaneously we can form new solutions to difficult problems of interconnection and the introduction of advanced services. The Internet research complements my more abstract theory on the study of interoperability. Similar to the Internet, High Definition Television (HDTV) is another development where interoperability issues are persistent. While I have recently been concentrating on Internet developments, HDTV is an area where I have still have research experience and interest.
My long-term research objectives are to advance the study of information infrastructure with respect to pricing and resource distribution, roles of cybermediaries, Internet Economics, and policy analysis. My research will continue with theoretical work on interoperability and empirical analyses of Internet Economics and Internet commerce. I believe that the role of government and development of national and international policy to develop information infrastructure and promote interoperability can be aided by this research direction.