COMPETITION & MARKETS
Competition and Digital Markets
Analyzing the effects of platforms, network effects, and data concentration on market competition.
Perspective of This Topic
Platforms connect multiple user groups, and the effects of data and scale influence service quality and entry conditions. In markets where competition cannot be judged by price alone, quality, privacy, switching costs, and innovation must also be analyzed. This agenda first outlines market scope and competitive pathways, then compares the effects of institutional changes on the incentives of businesses and users.
Three Axes of Analysis
- Market structure: Identifying who benefits and bears costs from multisided markets and network effects.
- Entry and mobility: Reviewing relationships among data access, interoperability, and switching costs.
- Outcomes of competition: Examining changes in quality, innovation, and choice diversity beyond price.
Related Projects and Research Materials
Connected Research Commentary
When Data Becomes a Condition for Competition
Network Effects and Entry Barriers in Digital Markets