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Compatibility Choices, Switching Costs, and Data Portability

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  • Doh-Shin Jeon
  • Domenico Menicucci
  • Nikrooz Nasr

Abstract

We study mix-and-match compatibility choices of firms selling complementary products in a dynamic setting. Contrary to what happens in a static setting where symmetric firms choose compatibility (Matutes and Regibeau 1988), when switching costs are high and firms make price discrimination based on past purchases, symmetric firms choose incompatibility to soften future competition if the discount factor is large, which harms consumers. Interoperability increases consumer surplus at least for high switching costs. Data portability, by reducing switching costs, induces the firms to choose compatibility more often but, given a compatibility regime, benefits consumers only if a nonnegative pricing constraint binds.

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  • Doh-Shin Jeon & Domenico Menicucci & Nikrooz Nasr, 2023. "Compatibility Choices, Switching Costs, and Data Portability," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(1), pages 30-73, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmic:v:15:y:2023:i:1:p:30-73
    DOI: 10.1257/mic.20200309
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    Cited by:

    1. Jay Pil Choi & Doh‐Shin Jeon, 2023. "Platform design biases in ad‐funded two‐sided markets," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 54(2), pages 240-267, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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