More Competitive Search Through Regulation

This paper identifies a set of possible regulations that could be used both to make the search market more competitive and simultaneously ameliorate the harms flowing from Google's current monopoly position. The purpose of this paper is to identify conceptual problems and solutions based on sound economic principles and to begin a discussion from which robust and specific policy recommendations can be drafted

Only Words

A Review of Only Words by Catharine A. MacKinno

The Digital Markets Act: An economic perspective on the final negotiations

The final stage of negotiations around the EU Digital Markets Act are underway. This column highlights five key sets of issues that remain under debate and provides an economic perspective. The authors support several of the proposed amendments, such as extending the prohibition on parity clauses and introducing new rules to address the anti-competitive use of default settings. They also agree with the intention of the latest proposals on self-preferencing, interoperability and data portability, and remedy options, but suggest some modifications

Equitable Interoperability: The 'Super Tool' of Digital Platform Governance

This paper addresses interoperability a “super tool” to promote and preserve competition in digital platform markets where network effects are strong. As is widely acknowledged, these markets have an inherent tendency towards concentration, leaving consumers with little competition in the market. Mandated interoperability is a form of regulation that is less intrusive than many other forms and is particularly suited to digital business models and fast changing digital technology. We introduce the concept of “equitable interoperability,” which means that not only can an entrant join the platform, but it can join on qualitatively equal terms as others, without being discriminated against by the dominant platform that might have its own competing service. Carefully implemented, equitable interoperability breaks down entry barriers which paves the way for new entrants, which in turn creates competition and consumer choice. Interoperability transforms what might have been competition for the market into competition in the market, which is a more efficient and effective form of competition