Antitrust and Upstream Platform Power Plays: A Policy in Bed with Procrustes

Antitrust regulators have focused on the plight of victimized suppliers upstream in the value chain, questioning whether upstream platform power plays are truly competition problems. This book provides a normative, theoretical, and practical analysis of antitrust and upstream platform power plays, engaging in a supplier-mindful soul-searching exercise and offering insights into antitrust's foundations, upstream effects, and public action. It appeals to scholars and policymakers interested in platform regulation, antitrust, and powerful digital platforms.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In recent years, large digital platforms have faced significant scrutiny from antitrust decision-makers worldwide. Antitrust regulators agree that urgent intervention is necessary. Interestingly, the plight of victimized suppliers, who are upstream in the value chain, has taken center stage in policy discussions, prompting a heightened level of scrutiny. Amid these concerns, "Antitrust and Upstream Platform Power Plays" raises a provocative question: Are upstream platform power plays truly competition problems, and ones that warrant antitrust intervention? The obvious answer, yes, is deceptively simple for several reasons. Firstly, it contradicts the contemporary antitrust framework's singular focus on consumers, which has effectively erased supplier exploitation in the brick-and-mortar economy from the policy's radar. Secondly, the broader antitrust community remains deeply divided in their assessment of platform practices, further complicating the matter. Additionally, even if a consensus could be reached, it would likely reinforce the long-standing belief that antitrust cannot prioritize supplier welfare. These paradoxes necessitate a policy introspection, precisely what this book offers. The analysis presented in "Antitrust and Upstream Platform Power Plays" is multifaceted, encompassing normative, theoretical, and practical dimensions. Normative in nature, it engages in a supplier-mindful soul-searching exercise, advancing our understanding of the foundations of antitrust. Theoretical in approach, it sheds multidisciplinary insights on upstream effects in the platform economy and develops novel frameworks for rationalizing them. Practical in execution, it delves into the intricate complexities of antitrust machinery while remaining attentive to other available levers of public action. In answering the compelling question posed by this book, policymakers and stakeholders will gain valuable insights into the dynamics of the platform economy and the role of antitrust in shaping its future.

Weight: 756g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192873057