DeLong points to benefits outside the profit measures
Brad DeLongEconomist responding in his own newsletter
DeLong accepts the flat corporate measures but argues that user benefits and new businesses may matter more.
“User surplus, which I think is massive.”
Analysis
Where this statement fits
Slok says AI has no payoff outside tech; DeLong challenges his measure
Torsten Slok says AI has delivered no financial payoff outside tech, citing revenue, margins and productivity measures. Brad DeLong accepts the flat corporate series but argues that user benefits and new firms may matter more. He also questions whether those benefits justify current valuations.
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
DeLong accepts the flat revenue and margin series but argues that user benefits and new firms are important effects outside that measure. He remains skeptical of current valuations.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
DeLong quotes Slok's argument and accepts the lack of movement in the cited corporate series.
After the quotation
He identifies user benefits, new firms and platform power as important channels, while questioning whether they justify current valuations.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case scrutinizes Slok's interpretation of payoff. DeLong challenges the yardstick, rather than its profit figures. Agreement on those figures does not endorse the interpretation; his valuation doubts are a separate assessment.
- Recorded on
- Published here
More from this case
Read the full caseSlok says AI has produced no financial payoff outside tech
“the technology has delivered zero financial payoff to corporate America outside of tech.”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- DeLong points to benefits outside the profit measures
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/6810-delong-accepts-the-flat-corporate-measures-but-argues
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "DeLong points to benefits outside the profit measures". First published: 2026-10-25. Last updated: 2026-10-25. https://disputeindex.com/events/6810-delong-accepts-the-flat-corporate-measures-but-argues