Lesley Chiou

An expert in the economics of the internet, Lesley Chiou focuses on consumer behavior, firm competition, and implications for government regulation of online markets. In these contexts, Professor Chiou has addressed vertical integration in search markets, content aggregation by platforms, the use of trademarks in online search, and the effects of digital advertising on consumer behavior.

Professor Chiou has been retained as an expert witness in a number of prominent antitrust litigations and has testified in multiple depositions. She has provided expert opinions on class certification, market definition, digital advertising, various pricing practices, and data privacy.

Econometric research on online commerce and digital competition

Professor Chiou applies her econometric expertise to address various issues involving frictionless commerce, such as bidding behavior in internet auctions, the impact of paywalls on demand for online news, and consumer responses to pricing changes.

In addition, Professor Chiou has analyzed competition between online and offline firms. Her industry expertise includes arts and media, consumer goods, and retail.

Presentations, publications, and teaching

Professor Chiou presents her research in governmental and academic settings. She has spoken at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on topics related to competition in digital and print advertising markets. She has also participated in academic panels, and her work has been presented at leading universities and conferences in the United States and Europe.

Professor Chiou’s papers have been published in the Journal of Economics and Management Strategy; the Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization; Management Science, Marketing Science; and the Journal of Econometrics. She has coauthored papers on search engines and data retention; how advertising on social networks can disseminate fake news; and internet access and inequality, among other topics.

At Occidental College, Professor Chiou teaches courses in econometrics and industrial organization. She has held visiting scholar positions at the University of California, Los Angeles; Boston University; and the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.