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Digital Platforms and Competition Policy: A Business-Ethical Assessment

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  • Wörsdörfer Manuel

    (Assistant Professor, Maine Business School & School of Computing and Information Science; University of Maine, USA)

Abstract

The debate around ‘big tech’ and competition law and policy has gained traction over the past few years – not least because of the various ongoing antitrust investigations in China, Europe, and the U.S. This paper builds on the renewed interest in the topic and discusses the key characteristics of digital markets, the business models and strategies of major tech platforms such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, and the corresponding antitrust issues. It does so by utilizing a distinct business ethics perspective, i.e., ordoliberalism. By doing so, the paper not only aims to enrich the current debate on big tech and antitrust; it also intends to illustrate the continuing relevance and importance of ‘German neoliberalism’ in the 21st century.

Suggested Citation

  • Wörsdörfer Manuel, 2021. "Digital Platforms and Competition Policy: A Business-Ethical Assessment," Journal for Markets and Ethics, Sciendo, vol. 9(2), pages 97-119, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:jmaeth:v:9:y:2021:i:2:p:97-119:n:2
    DOI: 10.2478/jome-2021-0007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ordoliberalism; Big Tech; Digital Markets; Antitrust; Competition Law and Policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B2 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925
    • K21 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Antitrust Law
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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