On May 20, 1976, the Economics Department of the City College of the
City University of New York held its fourth annual conference. Eight
papers followed by eight com- ments were delivered on the topic of
"Economics of Informa- tion." These papers and comments are published in
this volume along with a brief introduction. This publication has been
made possible by income from the Harry Schwager Fund. My colleagues in
the Economics Department have been generous when called upon to read and
evaluate the papers. Professor Morris Silver, chairman of the
department, was helpful at each stage of the project. Bob Leiter, my
colleague and joint editor of these papers, died on August 19, 1976,
while we were in the process of editing this volume. He was instrumental
in organizing the Economics Department's annual conferences from their
beginning in 1973 and for editing or jointly editing the con- ference
volumes. The Economics Department's Memorial Resolution, which follows,
best expresses our sense of loss at his premature death.