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Prioritization vs. congestion on platforms: evidence from Amazon's Twitch.tv

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  • José Tudón

Abstract

This article studies the efficient use of prioritizing certain content over others in Amazon's Twitch.tv, a live streaming service, taking into account the trade‐off between entry and congestion. I specify and estimate supply and demand models for live video, and a congestion model. Using technological shocks, I identify congestion costs for content providers and their consumers. Using shocks in prioritization, I identify its benefits. With estimated preferences and technological parameters, I construct counterfactuals. Without congestion, demand doubles. A supply‐side Pigouvian tax on traffic is preferred to a demand‐side one. Without prioritization, consumer welfare drops by 10%.

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  • José Tudón, 2022. "Prioritization vs. congestion on platforms: evidence from Amazon's Twitch.tv," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 53(2), pages 328-355, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:randje:v:53:y:2022:i:2:p:328-355
    DOI: 10.1111/1756-2171.12409
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