Abstract
Fundamentally, the mass media in the United States are economic institutions. To properly understand their role in American culture, a framework is needed for economic analysis. This essay lays out such a framework and argues for its utility in understanding the workings of the television, motion picture, newspaper, and radio industries, as well as in evaluating appropriate public policy responses and considering historical trends. The basics of the model deal with the structure, conduct, and performance of the industry.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: