MG4A8 Half Unit
Strategy for the Information Economy
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Jorn Rothe
Availability
This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MBA Exchange, MSc in Economics and Management and MSc in Management and Strategy. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply:
Places on oversubscribed courses will be allocated via a random ballot process with priority given to students with the course in their Programme Regulations, followed by other Department of Management students, then students from elsewhere in the school. Providing you apply before the Department deadline of 10am on Monday 29 September 2025, the time you applied will not be taken into account. Please be aware that places on high demand courses cannot be guaranteed. By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student’s chances of being accepted onto a course, and statements are not read.
For further information and updates on course availability during Week 1, please see the Department of Management Electives Moodle page.
Deadline for application:
Please apply by 10am on Monday 29 September 2025 with your first course choices. No allocations are made before this date and time.
For queries contact:
Please view the Department of Management Electives page for contact emails.
This course may be capped/subject to controlled access. For further information about the course's availability, please see the MG Elective Course Selection Moodle page (https://moodle.lse.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3840).
Requisites
Additional requisites:
Basic knowledge of economics.
Course content
The internet has created many new market opportunities. Web-based technology allows for new kinds of products and market interactions. Understanding the design and functioning of these new markets is central for business strategy. This course develops the relevant economic principles and applies them to the formulation of strategies for the provision of information goods and the competition between online market platforms.
The course examines the strategic aspects of the provision of information goods (such as news, music, software, search results) and strategic competition in platform markets. Topics include the pricing of information goods, versioning and bundling, switching costs and network effects. The course provides a theoretical framework and relates theory to examples and case studies.
Teaching
2 hours of lectures in the Spring Term.
10 hours of lectures and 9 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
In its Ethics Code, LSE upholds a commitment to intellectual freedom. This means we will protect the freedom of expression of our students and staff and the right to engage in healthy debate in the classroom.
Formative assessment
Two exercise sets.
Indicative reading
Hal R. Varian: Intermediate Microeconomics, W.W.Norton, 2014 (selected chapters); Carl Shapiro and Hal R. Varian: Information Rules, HBS Press, 1999 (selected chapters). A detailed reading list will be provided at the beginning of the course.
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Key facts
Department: Management
Course Study Period: Autumn and Spring Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 25
Average class size 2024/25: 12
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Problem solving
- Commercial awareness
- Specialist skills