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Independent analysis of economics, technology, business, and public policy. Original essays informed by academic research, historical evidence, and data-driven reasoning.

Business

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Business

3 essays

Business • Strategic Management

Why Samsung Wins in Memory: The Structural Advantages That Buried Toshiba, Outlasted Micron, and Outran Everyone Else

Samsung has led DRAM for 34 years and just clawed its way back in the HBM race. The real edge isn't better chips—it's owner-led decision speed, counter-cyclical capital, and vertical integration no rival can copy.

S.J. Nam, Ph.D Jul 6, 2026 11 min read

Business • Management Information Systems

The Vector Database Retreat Nobody Priced In

Enterprises rushed to buy standalone vector databases in 2023 and 2024, then discovered the real bill: double-write sync failures, egress surcharges, and replication costs the pricing calculator never showed. Now they're walking it back into the databases they already run.

S.J. Nam, Ph.D Jun 28, 2026 8 min read

Business • Innovation Management

Apple Is Running Out of Big Markets: Why the Next $120B Category Doesn’t Exist (Yet)

Apple stands at a pivotal moment. With nearly $400 billion in annual revenue, the company has outgrown most consumer markets on the planet. TVs, wearables, smart home devices, even VR and AI — none are big or profitable enough to meaningfully move Apple’s needle. As the search for the “next iPhone” continues, Apple faces a new reality: there are no existing markets left that can add $120B+ in new growth. The future will depend not on entering new industries, but on creating entirely new ones — and redefining how billions of people interact with technology.

S.J. Nam, Ph.D Jun 14, 2026 8 min read