The Platform Economy: New Competition Rules — Renaissance of Antitrust Control of the Abuse of Market Power

Abstract While digital platforms have intensifi ed competition in many markets, there is also a higher risk of market foreclosure due to the “winner takes all”-nature of these markets. Hence, there are good reasons for a strengthening of competition law, as now planned with Germany’s competition law...

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Main Author: Justus Haucap
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Springer 2020-04-01
Series:Wirtschaftsdienst
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-020-2611-9
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author Justus Haucap
author_facet Justus Haucap
author_sort Justus Haucap
collection DOAJ
description Abstract While digital platforms have intensifi ed competition in many markets, there is also a higher risk of market foreclosure due to the “winner takes all”-nature of these markets. Hence, there are good reasons for a strengthening of competition law, as now planned with Germany’s competition law reform. Focussing on the control of abuse of market power instead of merger control is well founded from an economic perspective, as a stricter control of abusive behaviour makes merger control less important. Strengthening merger control is difficult: While this could better address the problem of so-called killer acquisitions, it would also worsen the problem of GAFAM kill zones, which is equally relevant.
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spelling doaj.art-780adb89553c4685b2a5230d11a251492022-12-21T19:21:04ZdeuSpringerWirtschaftsdienst0043-62751613-978X2020-04-01100S1202910.1007/s10273-020-2611-9The Platform Economy: New Competition Rules — Renaissance of Antitrust Control of the Abuse of Market PowerJustus Haucap0Institut für Wettbewerbsökonomie (DICE), Heinrich-Heine-Universität DüsseldorfAbstract While digital platforms have intensifi ed competition in many markets, there is also a higher risk of market foreclosure due to the “winner takes all”-nature of these markets. Hence, there are good reasons for a strengthening of competition law, as now planned with Germany’s competition law reform. Focussing on the control of abuse of market power instead of merger control is well founded from an economic perspective, as a stricter control of abusive behaviour makes merger control less important. Strengthening merger control is difficult: While this could better address the problem of so-called killer acquisitions, it would also worsen the problem of GAFAM kill zones, which is equally relevant.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-020-2611-9
spellingShingle Justus Haucap
The Platform Economy: New Competition Rules — Renaissance of Antitrust Control of the Abuse of Market Power
Wirtschaftsdienst
title The Platform Economy: New Competition Rules — Renaissance of Antitrust Control of the Abuse of Market Power
title_full The Platform Economy: New Competition Rules — Renaissance of Antitrust Control of the Abuse of Market Power
title_fullStr The Platform Economy: New Competition Rules — Renaissance of Antitrust Control of the Abuse of Market Power
title_full_unstemmed The Platform Economy: New Competition Rules — Renaissance of Antitrust Control of the Abuse of Market Power
title_short The Platform Economy: New Competition Rules — Renaissance of Antitrust Control of the Abuse of Market Power
title_sort platform economy new competition rules renaissance of antitrust control of the abuse of market power
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-020-2611-9
work_keys_str_mv AT justushaucap theplatformeconomynewcompetitionrulesrenaissanceofantitrustcontroloftheabuseofmarketpower
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