Charles River Associates (CRA) Strengthens Its Testifying Capabilities with the Addition of a Renowned Digital Economy Expert

Key Terms

digital advertising technical

Digital advertising is the practice of placing promotional messages on websites, apps, search engines and social media to reach specific groups of people online. Investors care because it directly affects a company’s ability to attract customers and generate sales—like a storefront’s window display but measurable and adjustable in real time—impacting revenue growth, marketing efficiency and profit margins.

online marketplaces technical

Digital platforms that bring together independent buyers and sellers to trade goods or services, like a virtual mall or classified board where many merchants list offerings and many customers browse and buy. Investors care because marketplaces can scale quickly, generate fees or commissions, build repeat customers and valuable transaction data, and benefit from network effects—so small changes in user growth, pricing or regulation can meaningfully affect revenue and profitability.

algorithmic pricing technical

Algorithmic pricing is the practice of using computer programs to set or adjust prices automatically based on rules, data inputs and real-time market conditions. Like a thermostat that changes temperature using sensors and pre-set rules, these systems can react faster than humans, which matters to investors because they influence how quickly prices move, affect liquidity and volatility, and can create risks or opportunities from rapid, automated repricing.

antitrust regulatory

Antitrust are laws and government actions that stop companies from unfairly dominating markets, fixing prices, or blocking competitors — think of a referee preventing one player from hogging the ball so the game stays fair. Investors care because antitrust investigations, fines, or orders to change business practices can reduce revenue, raise costs, or limit growth, which directly affects a company’s risk profile and valuation.

consumer protection regulatory

Consumer protection are laws, rules and practices that guard buyers from fraud, unsafe products, misleading claims or unfair business behavior. For investors it matters because stronger protections can change a company’s costs, sales and reputation much like a seatbelt law changes how carmakers design vehicles—policy shifts or enforcement actions can affect profitability, legal risk and long-term value.

platform design technical

Platform design is the way a digital system—such as a marketplace, app store, or service network—is organized so different users and partners (buyers, sellers, developers) can find, connect and transact easily. For investors, good platform design is like a well-laid-out marketplace: it fuels user growth, reduces friction and makes it cheaper to add new services, which can boost revenue, lock in customers and increase the long-term value of the business.

reputation systems technical

Reputation systems are tools that collect and display feedback, ratings and behavioral records about companies, products or individuals so outsiders can judge trustworthiness and past performance. For investors, these systems act like a public report card: they influence customer demand, partnership opportunities, regulatory attention and perceived risk, all of which can affect revenue forecasts and a company’s valuation.

Federal Trade Commission regulatory

The Federal Trade Commission is a U.S. government agency that enforces rules to keep markets competitive and protect consumers from deceptive or unfair business practices, acting like a referee for the marketplace. Its actions matter to investors because investigations, fines, required changes to business practices, or blocked mergers can raise costs, slow growth or damage reputation, any of which can affect a company's stock value.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial, and management consulting services, today announced the addition of Dr. Steven Tadelis as a Senior Consultant to the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice.

Dr. Tadelis is Professor of Economics, Business and Public Policy and the Sarin Chair in Leadership and Strategy at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. With research focused on e-commerce and internet economics, Dr. Tadelis has published extensively including field‑experiment analyses of digital advertising effectiveness, studies of reputation and feedback systems in online marketplaces, and research on algorithmic pricing. He has provided expert economic testimony in major US and Canadian litigation cases involving digital markets and participated in Federal Trade Commission hearings on competition and consumer protection.

“We are pleased to welcome Steve to CRA,” said Paul Maleh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charles River Associates. “Steve’s track record as a sought-after testifying expert and his extensive publication history make him a notable addition to our firm. He joins a distinguished team of practitioners who share his academic credentials, deep industry insights, and substantial litigation experience.”

“Steve brings a rare combination of leading academic scholarship and practical Big Tech experience to clients, making him a uniquely qualified testifying expert in antitrust and consumer protection cases involving internet economics,” said Margaret Sanderson, Vice President and Global Practice Leader of the Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice at CRA. “Steve’s work on platform design, reputation systems, and algorithmic pricing maps directly to the issues our clients bring to us. His ability to clearly explain the economics of pricing and consumer behavior, backed by rigorous analytical methods, makes him highly valued by clients.”

Dr. Tadelis began his academic career at Stanford University before joining the Haas faculty at Berkeley in 2005. He took on two major industry leadership roles while on leave from the university: first as Senior Director and Distinguished Economist at eBay Research Labs (2011–2013), and later as Vice President of Economics and Market Design at Amazon (2016–2017), followed by continued appointments as an Economics Fellow and Amazon Scholar.

Dr. Tadelis has a BA in Economics from the University of Haifa, an MSc in Economics from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, and a MA and PhD in Economics from Harvard University.

About CRA’s Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice
CRA’s competition economists provide economic analysis and testimony in competition matters around the world. Many have served in government antitrust agencies and are members of premier academic, economic, and law faculties. Their experience extends to many industries, including healthcare, energy, computer hardware/software, retailing, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, entertainment, transportation, natural resources, sports, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and consumer products.

About Charles River Associates (CRA)
Charles River Associates^® is a leading global consulting firm specializing in economic, financial, and management consulting services. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its unique combination of functional expertise and industry knowledge, and for its objective solutions to complex problems. Headquartered in Boston, CRA has offices throughout the world. Detailed information about Charles River Associates, a registered trade name of CRA International, Inc., is available at www.crai.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Statements in this press release concerning the addition of Dr. Steven Tadelis and the expansion of CRA’s Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice, and any future business Dr. Tadelis may generate for CRA, are “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties. Information contained in these forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain, and actual performance and results may differ materially due to many important factors. Such factors that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by CRA include, among others: the failure to generate engagements for us; the potential loss of clients; the demand environment; global economic conditions; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; and intense competition. Additional potential factors that could affect our financial results are included in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those under the heading “Risk Factors.” We cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievement. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, and we do not intend to do so.

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Source: Charles River Associates