John Richards is Director of International Computer Services Research at the Stanford Computer Industry Project. He recently arrived at Stanford from the University of California at San Diego, where he received his Ph.D. in Political Science (1997). His dissertation The Domestic Politics of International Regulatory Policy: The Regulatory Institutions For Trade in Aviation Services, examined the economics and politics of international aviation services markets. He has also written on the economics and politics of international telecommunications markets, and the challenges facing regulatory authorities in competitive international telecommunications markets.

His current research interests include the regulation of international computer services and telecommunications markets, as well as aviation services markets. Broadly, his research focuses on the economics and politics of international markets of networked industries, and the barriers to competition in these markets. Future research will focus on how national regulatory arrangements will shape the organization of online markets, and how governments can and will intervene to shape the costs and benefits of e-commerce. His research has been published in books of collected studies and in such journals as International Organization.