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Systemic Efficiencies In Competition Law: Evidence From The Ict Industry

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  • Konstantinos Stylianou

Abstract

This article introduces the concept of systemic efficiencies, traces its theoretical underpinnings in economics, management, and technology, and applies it to recent high-profile cases. Systemic efficiencies occur in large complex systems through the interaction of multiple distributed components, a process that is commonly coordinated by an entity that can exercise pervasive control over the system's components and their interactions. That type of extensive control can manifest as potentially anticompetitive practices, such as tying, refusing to deal, and full-line forcing, which can provoke the reaction of competition authorities. However, at the same time, systemic efficiencies can have significant benefits that cannot be generated by more isolated efficiencies that are simpler and smaller in scale. Thus, systemic efficiencies are of great interest to society, and of high redeeming value as an antitrust defense mechanism for the introducing entities. This article discusses two cases to demonstrate how systemic efficiencies and their benefits materialize in practice: (1) the recent IBM mainframes cases in the United States and the European Union and (2) the ongoing Google Android cases in the United States and the European Union. Both cases belong in the ICT industry, which is paradigmatic of large complex systems that can give rise to systemic efficiencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Konstantinos Stylianou, 2016. "Systemic Efficiencies In Competition Law: Evidence From The Ict Industry," Journal of Competition Law and Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(3), pages 557-590.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:jcomle:v:12:y:2016:i:3:p:557-590.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/joclec/nhw022
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • K21 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Antitrust Law
    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • L41 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Monopolization; Horizontal Anticompetitive Practices
    • L52 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Industrial Policy; Sectoral Planning Methods
    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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