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Regulating prices in two-sided markets: The waterbed experience in mobile telephony

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  • Genakos, Christos
  • Valletti, Tommaso

Abstract

The distinguishing feature of two-sided markets is that the pricing structure, that is, the relative prices charged to each side, matters. Regulators need to understand and account for the interdependence of prices in both sides. Some interventions that lower the prices on one side can result in higher prices on the other side of such markets. This article reviews the recent literature analyzing this waterbed phenomenon in mobile telephony and draws some more general lessons for policy interventions in two-sided markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Genakos, Christos & Valletti, Tommaso, 2012. "Regulating prices in two-sided markets: The waterbed experience in mobile telephony," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 360-368.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:36:y:2012:i:5:p:360-368
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2011.12.014
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    2. Fischer, Christian & Rasch, Alexander & Wenzel, Tobias, 2020. "Complex pricing and consumer-side attention," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-075, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    3. Lüth Hendrik, 2015. "Toll Road or Dumb Pipe? Economic Perspectives on Net Neutrality," Review of Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 66(3), pages 303-329, December.
    4. I. Vogelsang, 2015. "Will the U.S. and EU telecommunications policies converge? A survey," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 42(2), pages 117-155, June.
    5. Hawthorne, Ryan, 2018. "The effects of lower mobile termination rates in South Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(5), pages 374-385.
    6. Roger Noll, 2013. "Assessing Telecommunications Policy in Mexico," Discussion Papers 12-030, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
    7. 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.
    8. Lee, Dongyeol, 2015. "Regulating termination charges in asymmetric oligopolies," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 16-28.
    9. Stork, Christoph & Gillwald, Alison, 2014. "Link between termination rates and retail prices in Namibia, Kenya and South Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 783-797.
    10. Russo, Francesco & Stasi, Maria Luisa, 2016. "Defining the relevant market in the sharing economy," Internet Policy Review: Journal on Internet Regulation, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Berlin, vol. 5(2), pages 1-13.
    11. Tommaso Majer & Michele Pistollato, 2016. "Calling vs. Receiving Party Pays," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 17(2), pages 150-180, June.
    12. Michelle Connolly & Clement Lee & Renhao Tan, 2017. "The Digital Divide and Other Economic Considerations for Network Neutrality," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 50(4), pages 537-554, June.
    13. Bita Shabgard & Javier Asensio, 2023. "The price effects of reducing payment card interchange fees," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 14(2), pages 189-221, June.

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