THE COMPETITION ECONOMICS OF ONLINE PLATFORMS

This paper provides an overview of the competitive issues surrounding online platforms. The general theme is that while much has been made of the structural features of online platforms, there is little hard evidence that these are durable monopolies. Nonetheless, there are concerns about the behavior of large online digital platforms arising from their vertical integration, self-preferencing, killer acquisitions, and agglomeration. Developments in and relevance to ASEAN countries are discussed.