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Multisided Platforms, Big Data, and a Little Antitrust Policy

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  • Michael L. Katz

    (University of California, Berkeley)

Abstract

Commentators on both the right and the left ends of the political spectrum have called for new and more forceful approaches to antitrust enforcement with respect to large multisided platforms: especially Amazon, Facebook, and Google. In part, these calls have been driven by the fact that these platforms have business models that make extensive use of data about their users. This article surveys what economics has to say about a wide range of antitrust issues—including the treatment of exclusionary conduct, merger, and privacy—that are raised by multisided platforms’ reliance on big data collected about their users.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael L. Katz, 2019. "Multisided Platforms, Big Data, and a Little Antitrust Policy," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 54(4), pages 695-716, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:revind:v:54:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s11151-019-09683-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11151-019-09683-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alleman, James & Baranes, Edmond & Rappoport, Paul, 2019. "Multisided Markets & Platform Dominance," 30th European Regional ITS Conference, Helsinki 2019 205162, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    2. Ratchford, Brian & Soysal, Gonca & Zentner, Alejandro & Gauri, Dinesh K., 2022. "Online and offline retailing: What we know and directions for future research," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 98(1), pages 152-177.
    3. Lukas Stricker & Joël Wagner & Angela Zeier Röschmann, 2023. "The Future of Insurance Intermediation in the Age of the Digital Platform Economy," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-32, August.
    4. Ding, Rong & Ko, Chiu Yu & Shen, Bo, 2022. "Partial compatibility in two-sided markets: Equilibrium and welfare analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Jin, Ginger Zhe & Wagman, Liad, 2021. "Big data at the crossroads of antitrust and consumer protection," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    6. Afilipoaie, Adelaida & Donders, Karen & Ballon, Pieter, 2022. "The European Commission's approach to mergers involving software-based platforms: Towards a better understanding of platform power," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5).
    7. Witek-Hajduk Marzanna Katarzyna & Grudecka Anna, 2022. "Consumer intentions to purchase on foreign multi-sided digital platforms: a context of the COVID-19 pandemic," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 58(2), pages 143-160, June.

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