EPP Faculty: Pedro Ferreira

Pedro Ferreira The Heinz College Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue Hamburg Hall 3042 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Email:pedrof@cmu.edu Phone: (412) 268-5526

Assistant Research Professor, Department of Engineering and Public Policy and H. John Heinz III College

Economic Impact of ICTs in Education, Data Analytics in Social Networks, Regulation of Telecom Markets

Education

• Ph.D. in Enginnering and Public Policy Specialization in Telecom Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, 2004.
• M. Sc. in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Technology Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002.
• M. Sc. in Engineering Policy, Innovation and Management of Technology Instituto Superior Tecnico, 1990.
• 5-year B. Sc. in Systems and Computer Science, Specialization in Industrial Informatics, Instituto Superior Tecnico, 1986.

Positions Held

Carnegie Mellon University, 2007-

Research Interests

I pursue three lines of related research using both theoretical as well as empirical approaches. My research interests rely on understanding how people use technology and influence each other to do so and how firms and regulation interact to shape telecommunication and information markets.
Economic Impact of ICTs in Education
This line of research is devoted to measure the economic impact of ICTs, and broadband in particular, in schools and universities. Economic impact is measured through academic performance as well as widespread adoption and use of broadband.
Data Analytics in Social Networks
This line of research is focused on analyzing large datasets on consumer behavior to empirically establish and measure the effect of peer influence over social networks in network churn and purchase of cell phone related products
Regulation of Telecom Markets
This line of research looks at the structure of telecom markets with emphasis on local networks. The impact of wholesale price regulation is analyzed from an economic perspective. Option theory is used to address issues of asymmetric value between infrastructure and virtual providers.

Selected papers

1. “The Effects of Broadband in Schools on Students’ Performance”, with Rodrigo Belo and Rahul Telang. This paper shows that the introduction of broadband in schools leads to a decrease in grades in the short-term.
2. “Impact of Wireless Internet on Graduate Academic Performance”, with Ryan Turner. This paper shows that higher usage of wireless Internet in the University of Porto is associated with better academic performance.
3. “Spillover Effects of Wiring Schools with Broadband”. This paper shows that wiring schools with broadband in Portugal led to an increase in the overall Internet traffic in the country.
4. “Spillover Effects of Broadband in Schools and the Critical Role of Children”, with Rodrigo Belo and Rahul Telang. This paper shows that deploying broadband to schools leads to an increase in the household adoption rate of Internet.
5. “Family Spillover Effects of Broadband Internet in Schools”, with Rodrigo Belo. In this paper we expect to address the issue of whether adults in the household use more Internet as a result of having children in school that do so (still in preliminary stage).

1. “Social Network Data Lifts Prediction of Near-Future Mobile Churners”, with Pavel Krivistky. This paper shows that using data about the social circle allows for better predicting churners in cell phone networks.
2. “Contagious Churn in Cell Phone Networks”, with Pavel Krivitsky and Rahul Telang. This paper shows that when a consumer leaves a cell phone operator her friends’ propensity to follow increases.
3. “Diffusion and Influence over Cell Phone Networks”, with Rodrigo Belo. This paper uses randomization techniques to establish what kind of cell phone products diffuse based on peer influence.
4. “Diffusion of Handsets over Cell Phone Networks”, with Miguel Matos. This paper shows the effect of peer influence in the diffusion of cell phone handsets.
5. “Peer influence in Shurn over in Cell Phone Networks”, with Qiwei Han. This paper identifies the determinants of churn in cell phone networks.
6. “Determinants of the Life Cycle of Tweets”, with Vasco Pedro and Miguel Matos. In this paper we hope to characterize the life cycle of tweets and understand better the determinants of successful tweets (still in preliminary stage).

1. “The Effects of Broadband in Schools on Students’ Performance”, with Rodrigo Belo and Rahul Telang. This paper shows that the introduction of broadband in schools leads to a decrease in grades in the short-term.
2. “Impact of Wireless Internet on Graduate Academic Performance”, with Ryan Turner. This paper shows that higher usage of wireless Internet in the University of Porto is associated with better academic performance.
3. “Spillover Effects of Wiring Schools with Broadband”. This paper shows that wiring schools with broadband in Portugal led to an increase in the overall Internet traffic in the country.
4. “Spillover Effects of Broadband in Schools and the Critical Role of Children”, with Rodrigo Belo and Rahul Telang. This paper shows that deploying broadband to schools leads to an increase in the household adoption rate of Internet.
5. “Family Spillover Effects of Broadband Internet in Schools”, with Rodrigo Belo. In this paper we expect to address the issue of whether adults in the household use more Internet as a result of having children in school that do so (still in preliminary stage).

Personal webpage