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Economics at Google

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  • Hal Varian

    (University of California)

Abstract

What does an economist do at Google? I get this question a lot so I thought this would be a good opportunity to answer it, using illustrations from pricing in ad auctions, the development of forecasting tools, as well as using Google Trends for nowcasts.

Suggested Citation

  • Hal Varian, 2021. "Economics at Google," Business Economics, Palgrave Macmillan;National Association for Business Economics, vol. 56(4), pages 195-199, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:buseco:v:56:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1057_s11369-021-00243-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s11369-021-00243-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicolas Woloszko, 2020. "Tracking activity in real time with Google Trends," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1634, OECD Publishing.
    2. Steven L. Scott & Hal R. Varian, 2015. "Bayesian Variable Selection for Nowcasting Economic Time Series," NBER Chapters, in: Economic Analysis of the Digital Economy, pages 119-135, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Hal R. Varian, 2014. "Big Data: New Tricks for Econometrics," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 28(2), pages 3-28, Spring.
    4. Goldfarb, Avi & Greenstein, Shane M. & Tucker, Catherine E. (ed.), 2015. "Economic Analysis of the Digital Economy," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226206981, June.
    5. Hyunyoung Choi & Hal Varian, 2012. "Predicting the Present with Google Trends," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 88(s1), pages 2-9, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Iacoella, Francesco & Justino, Patrica & Martorano, Bruno, 2021. "Do pandemics lead to rebellion? Policy responses to COVID-19, inequality, and protests in the USA," MERIT Working Papers 2021-014, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    2. Wang, Ding & Tayarani, Mohammad & Yueshuai He, Brian & Gao, Jingqin & Chow, Joseph Y.J. & Oliver Gao, H. & Ozbay, Kaan, 2021. "Mobility in post-pandemic economic reopening under social distancing guidelines: Congestion, emissions, and contact exposure in public transit," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 151-170.
    3. Noskova, Victoriia, 2021. "Voice assistants as gatekeepers for consumption? How information intermediaries shape competition," Ilmenau Economics Discussion Papers 161, Ilmenau University of Technology, Institute of Economics.
    4. repec:idq:ictduk:16939 is not listed on IDEAS

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