] Nonetheless, an economic analysis of domain name policy
] has an important, indeed a crucial role to play. The
] Internet has been mythologized, and the image of the
] Internet as a separate realm, somehow exempt from legal
] regulation and the operation of market forces is still a
] powerful and compelling ideal in the minds of many.
] Although this romantic picture may have an element of
] truth, there is much to be learned by stepping back and
] looking at root service as an ordinary service, provided
] by an ordinary organization, subject to the familiar laws
] of supply and demand. How can the provision of that
] service be organized so as to provide the greatest
] benefit of the public? How can the root be put to its
] highest and best use?
]
] Our answers to these questions begin with a basic truth
] about the DNS: The Root Is a Scarce Resource

I'm going to have to think about this more -- I don't think
I agree with their conclusions -- but it is interesting to see
someone trying to analyze these namespace issues economically.

An Economic Analysis of Domain Name Policy - Part I