2026 Undergraduate Spring Panel: Regulating Disruptive Digital Technologies
Digital technologies — from social media and smartphones to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence — transformed how we lived, worked, learned, and connected. While they created enormous economic value, they also raised urgent concerns about privacy, labor market disruption, long-run growth, and digital addiction. Policymakers therefore faced a challenge: how could we maximize the benefits of digital transformation in our lives while mitigating the emerging and potential social costs? Attendees joined us for a timely panel to share thoughts on regulating the digital economy.
Oeconomica, the University of Chicago’s Undergraduate Economics Society, hosted this event in collaboration with BFI.
PHOTO GALLERY
Agenda
Welcome and Introduction
Chad Syverson, George C. Tiao Distinguished Service Professor, Booth School of
Business, Deputy Director, Becker Friedman Institute for Economics
Opening Remarks
Panelist Introductions
Moderated Panel - On Regulating the Digital Economy
Panelists
 Ufuk Akcigit, Arnold C. Harberger Professor in Economics and the College, The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, University of Chicago |
 Matthew Gentzkow (joining virtually), Landau Professor of Technology and the Economy at Stanford University and the Faculty Director of Stanford Impact Labs |
 Marshall Steinbaum, Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Utah;Senior Fellow in Higher Education Finance, Jain Family Institute |
Moderators
Spencer Dalton, Student Moderator, University of Chicago
Christopher Pan, Student Moderator, University of Chicago