Even when you use the Internet using an Internet, usually often you're using a middleman. And then the question becomes, which middleman do I trust? And how do I compare them? So let's talk about an example of, of an intermediary on the Internet, a middleman on the Internet,. Which is open table. Talk about what their business model, how it started and the challenges they faced.
Why would anyone want to hire a middleman, like a wedding planner, especially if you have time to take care of the planning yourself? Marina Krakovsky, author of The Middleman Economy talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about middlemen in the modern economy. Despite predictions that the internet would destroy the need for middlemen, Krakovsky argues they're more valuable than ever though their roles have changed. Krakovsky looks at the different roles middlemen play today and how their value added can justify their existence.