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Vertical product differentiation and two-sided markets

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  • Gabszewicz, Jean J.
  • Wauthy, Xavier Y.

Abstract

We model platform competition in a market where products are characterized by cross network externalities. Consumers differ in their valuation of these externalities. Although the exogenous set-up is entirely symmetric, we show that platform competition induces a vertical differentiation structure that allows for the co-existence of asymmetric platforms in equilibrium. We establish this result in two set-ups: in the first one platforms commit to prices, in the second one they commit to network sizes.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabszewicz, Jean J. & Wauthy, Xavier Y., 2014. "Vertical product differentiation and two-sided markets," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 123(1), pages 58-61.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:123:y:2014:i:1:p:58-61
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2013.12.031
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jean‐Charles Rochet & Jean Tirole, 2006. "Two‐sided markets: a progress report," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 37(3), pages 645-667, September.
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    5. Jean-Charles Rochet Author-Email:rochet@cict.fr Author-Workplace-Name: IDEI, University of Toulouse & Jean Tirole Author-Email: tirole@cict.fr Author-Workplace-Name: IDEI, University of Toulouse, 2006. "Two-Sided Markets: A Progress Report," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 37(3), pages 645-667, Autumn.
    6. GABSZEWICZ, Jean & WAUTHY, Xavier, 2004. "Two-sided markets and price competition with multi-homing," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2004030, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
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    Cited by:

    1. Debora Di Gioacchino & Alina Verashchagina, 2017. "Mass media and attitudes to inequality," Working Papers in Public Economics 178, University of Rome La Sapienza, Department of Economics and Law.
    2. Etro, Federico, 2021. "Device-funded vs ad-funded platforms," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    3. Bruno Jullien & Alessandro Pavan & Marc Rysman, 2021. "Two-sided markets, pricing, and network effects," Post-Print hal-03828345, HAL.
    4. Maria Rosa Battaggion & Serena Marianna Drufuca, 2020. "Quality competition and entry: a media market case," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 130(1), pages 1-36, June.
    5. Joao Correia‐da‐Silva & Bruno Jullien & Yassine Lefouili & Joana Pinho, 2019. "Horizontal mergers between multisided platforms: Insights from Cournot competition," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 109-124, January.
    6. Belleflamme, Paul & Peitz, Martin & Toulemonde, Eric, 2022. "The tension between market shares and profit under platform competition," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    7. Chiu Yu Ko & Bo Shen, 2021. "Are dominant platforms good for consumers?," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 59(3), pages 1364-1377, July.
    8. Lambert, Louise & Dedeurwaerdere, Tom & Nyssens, Marthe & Severi, Elisabetta & Brolis, Olivier, 2019. "Unpacking the organisational diversity within the collaborative economy: The contribution of an analytical framework from social enterprise theory," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Paul Belleflamme & Martin Peitz, 2019. "Managing competition on a two‐sided platform," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 5-22, January.
    10. Juan Manuel Sanchez‐Cartas & Gonzalo León, 2021. "Multisided Platforms And Markets: A Survey Of The Theoretical Literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(2), pages 452-487, April.
    11. Ramnath K. Chellappa & Rajiv Mukherjee, 2021. "Platform Preannouncement Strategies: The Strategic Role of Information in Two-Sided Markets Competition," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(3), pages 1527-1545, March.
    12. Elias Carroni, 2018. "Behaviour-based price discrimination with cross-group externalities," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 125(2), pages 137-157, October.
    13. Belleflamme, Paul & Peitz, Martin, 2019. "Price disclosure by two-sided platforms," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    14. Kazakova, E. & Sandomirskaia, M. & Suvorov, A. & Khazhgerieva, A. & Shavshin, R., 2023. "Platforms, online labor markets, and crowdsourcing. Part 1. Traditional online labor market," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 60(3), pages 120-148.
    15. Yang Geng & Yulin Zhang & Jing Li, 2023. "Two-sided competition, platform services and online shopping market structure," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 138(2), pages 95-127, March.
    16. Geng, Yang & Zhang, Yulin, 2020. "Platform launch in two-sided markets and users’ expectations," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 558(C).
    17. Ding, Rong & Ko, Chiu Yu & Shen, Bo, 2022. "Partial compatibility in two-sided markets: Equilibrium and welfare analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    18. Jeitschko, Thomas D. & Tremblay, Mark J., 2014. "Homogeneous platform competition with endogenous homing," DICE Discussion Papers 166, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE).
    19. Qihong Liu & Daniel Nedelescu & Ji Gu, 2021. "The impact of strategic agents in two-sided markets," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 134(3), pages 195-218, December.
    20. Esther Gal‐Or & Ronen Gal‐Or & Nabita Penmetsa, 2019. "Can platform competition support market segmentation? Network externalities versus matching efficiency in equity crowdfunding markets," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 420-435, June.
    21. Di Gioacchino, Debora & Verashchagina, Alina, 2020. "Mass media and preferences for redistribution," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    22. Chung‐Hui Chou, 2021. "Could coexistence of open‐source and proprietary platforms be an equilibrium outcome?," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 89(3), pages 297-309, June.
    23. Giovannetti, Emanuele & Siciliani, Paolo, 2023. "Platform Competition and Incumbency Advantage under Heterogeneous Lock-in effects," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    24. Zennyo, Yusuke, 2020. "Freemium competition among ad-sponsored platforms," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    25. Luigi Serio & Piero Tedeschi & Giovanni Ursino, 2018. "Making Sense of (Ultra) Low-Cost Flights Vertical Differentiation in Two-Sided Markets," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(1), pages 401-420, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Network externalities; Two-sided market; Vertical differentiation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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