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The Economics of the Cloud

Author

Listed:
  • Crémer, Jacques
  • Biglaiser, Gary
  • Mantovani, Andrea

Abstract

The aim of this report is to present the main facets of the development of cloud services, its economics and the related policy issues. We begin by surveying the sector, its growth and the significant increase in concentration in recent years. We then discuss the tools that economics gives us to study these phenomena before turning to a critical analysis of some of the most prominent policy reports which have been produced on the topic. We finally turn to a more detailed look at the (meagre) economic literature on the industry and of the economic theories which could be used for deeper analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Crémer, Jacques & Biglaiser, Gary & Mantovani, Andrea, 2024. "The Economics of the Cloud," TSE Working Papers 24-1520, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    • Handle: RePEc:tse:wpaper:129265
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gary Biglaiser & Jacques Crémer, 2020. "The Value of Incumbency When Platforms Face Heterogeneous Customers," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(4), pages 229-269, November.
    2. Caillaud, Bernard & Jullien, Bruno, 2003. "Chicken & Egg: Competition among Intermediation Service Providers," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 34(2), pages 309-328, Summer.
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    4. Farrell, Joseph & Saloner, Garth, 1992. "Converters, Compatibility, and the Control of Interfaces," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 9-35, March.
    5. Luís Cabral, 2011. "Dynamic Price Competition with Network Effects," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 78(1), pages 83-111.
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    7. Joshua Gans & Mikaël Hervé & Muath Masri, 2023. "Economic analysis of proposed regulations of cloud services in Europe," European Competition Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 522-568, September.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • K21 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Antitrust Law
    • 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
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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