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Competing one-way essential complements: the forgotten side of net neutrality

Author

Listed:
  • Broos, Sébastien

    (Université de Liège, HEC Management School, Belgium)

  • Gautier, Axel

    (Université catholique de Louvain, CORE, Belgium)

Abstract

We analyze the incentives of internet service providers (ISPs) to break net neutrality by excluding internet applications competing with their own products, a typical example being the exclusion of VoIP applications by telecom companies offering internet and voice services. Exclusion is not a concern when the ISP is a monopoly because it can extract the additional surplus created by the application through price rebalancing. When ISPs compete, it could lead to a fragmented internet where only one firm offers the application. We show that, both in monopoly and duopoly, prohibiting the exclusion of the app and surcharges for its use –a strong form of net neutrality– is not welfare improving.

Suggested Citation

  • Broos, Sébastien & Gautier, Axel, 2014. "Competing one-way essential complements: the forgotten side of net neutrality," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2014064, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cor:louvco:2014064
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    File URL: https://sites.uclouvain.be/core/publications/coredp/coredp2014.html
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    10. Frago Kourandi & Jan Krämer & Tommaso Valletti, 2015. "Net Neutrality, Exclusivity Contracts, and Internet Fragmentation," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(2), pages 320-338, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mattéo Godin & Jean Hindriks, 2015. "A Review of critical issues on tax design and tax administration in a global economy and developing countries," BeFinD Working Papers 0107, University of Namur, Department of Economics.
    2. Robert F. Easley & Hong Guo & Jan Krämer, 2018. "Research Commentary—From Net Neutrality to Data Neutrality: A Techno-Economic Framework and Research Agenda," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(2), pages 253-272, June.
    3. Mouchart, M. & Wunsch, G. & Russo, F., 2015. "The issue of control in multivariate systems A contribution of structural modelling," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2015029, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    4. Gautier, Axel & Somogyi, Robert, 2020. "Prioritization vs zero-rating: Discrimination on the internet," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    5. Vogelsang Ingo, 2018. "Net Neutrality Regulation: Much Ado about Nothing?," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 17(3), pages 225-243, September.
    6. Carlotta Mariotto & Marianne Verdier, 2020. "Platform–merchant competition for sales services," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 834-853, October.
    7. Mouchart, M. & Wunsch, G. & Russo, F., 2015. "The issue of control in multivariate systems, A contribution of structural modelling," LIDAM Discussion Papers ISBA 2015019, Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Statistics, Biostatistics and Actuarial Sciences (ISBA).
    8. Jamison Mark A., 2018. "Net Neutrality Policies and Regulation in the United States," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 17(3), pages 151-173, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    net neutrality; foreclosure; one-way essential complements;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications

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