Some interesting economic facts

[Matt Deatrick <mattd@shocking.com>]

	It is little known, and "they" are keeping it a secret. But there
is an interesting economic twist on this whole "informational economy"
idea. 
	Economics is based in the idea of scarcity; economics is the
science of discovering how to allocate those scarce resources. The basic
assumption: I eat a can of soup, there is less soup for you. Information
escapes this dillema. When I provide you with access to information, you
probably provide me with information. Rather than degrade the amount of the
resource, it actually expands due to its "consumption"(sharing is a better
word). Even if you do not provide me with access to information, you have
gained knowledge which you may pass on, etc.... To infinity and beyond.
	The point I am getting at is this: an information economy is a
contradiction of terms. Information should be, and by definition is, a
public good. The theory of public goods states that my consumption does not
affect your consumption, sounds like information! 
	I thought this group might find this interesting. The fact that our
basic economic principles make the case against Microsoft having sole
control and ownership of information. Non-disclosure agreements, patents,
copyrights, if not completely removed(as a liberal reading of this might
suggest), should be in fact limited severely. 
	Matt Deatrick
	Dept. Of Economics
	CSU, Chico