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Merger Policy in Digital Markets: An Ex-Post Assessment

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Argentesi
  • Paolo Buccirossi
  • Emilio Calvano
  • Tomaso Duso
  • Alessia Marrazzo
  • Salvatore Nava
Abstract
This paper presents a broad retrospective evaluation of mergers and merger decisions in the digital sector. We first discuss the most crucial features of digital markets such as network effects, multi-sidedness, big data, and rapid innovation that create important challenges for competition policy. We show that these features have been key determinants of the theories of harm in major merger cases in the past few years. We then analyse the characteristics of almost 300 acquisitions carried out by three major digital companies –Amazon, Facebook, and Google – between 2008 and 2018. We cluster target companies on their area of economic activity and show that they span a wide range of economic sectors. In most cases, their products and services appear to be complementary to those supplied by the acquirers. Moreover, target companies seem to be particularly young, being four-years-old or younger in nearly 60% of cases at the time of the acquisition. Finally, we examine two important merger cases, Facebook/Instagram and Google/Waze, providing a systematic assessment of the theories of harm considered by the UK competition authorities as well as evidence on the evolution of the market after the transactions were approved. We discuss whether the CAs performed complete and careful analyses to foresee the competitive consequences of the investigated mergers and whether a more effective merger control regime can be achieved within the current legal framework.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Argentesi & Paolo Buccirossi & Emilio Calvano & Tomaso Duso & Alessia Marrazzo & Salvatore Nava, 2019. "Merger Policy in Digital Markets: An Ex-Post Assessment," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1836, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp1836
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

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    2. Jin, Ginger Zhe & Leccese, Mario & Wagman, Liad, 2023. "How Do Top Acquirers Compare in Technology Mergers? New Evidence from an S&P Taxonomy," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. Martin Peitz, 2023. "Governance and Regulation of Platforms," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2023_480, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    4. Gautier, Axel & Lamesch, Joe, 2021. "Mergers in the digital economy," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    5. Guy Aridor & Rafael Jiménez-Durán & Ro'ee Levy & Lena Song, 2024. "The Economics of Social Media," CESifo Working Paper Series 10934, CESifo.
    6. Bernhardt, Lea, 2020. "Common factors of withdrawn and prohibited mergers in the European Union," Working Paper 184/2020, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg.
    7. Shekhar, Shiva, 2020. "Zero Pricing Platform Competition," MPRA Paper 99364, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Jan Malek & Melissa Newham & Jo Seldeslachts & Reinhilde Veugelers, 2024. "Acquiring R&D projects: who, when, and what? Evidence from antidiabetic drug development," Working Papers of Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven 735739, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven.
    9. Zhijun Chen & Chongwoo Choe & Jiajia Cong & Noriaki Matsushima, 2022. "Data‐driven mergers and personalization," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 53(1), pages 3-31, March.
    10. Klaus E. Meyer & Jiatao Li & Keith D. Brouthers & Ruey-Jer ‘‘Bryan’’ Jean, 2023. "International business in the digital age: Global strategies in a world of national institutions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(4), pages 577-598, June.
    11. Tomaso Duso & Lea Bernhardt & Joanna Piechucka, 2024. "The Evolution of Theories of Harm in EU Merger Control," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2090, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    12. Laureen de Barsy & Axel Gautier, 2024. "Big Tech Acquisitions and Innovation: An Empirical Assessment," CESifo Working Paper Series 11025, CESifo.
    13. Zhijun Chen & pch346 & Chongwoo Choe & Jiajia Cong & Noriaki Matsushima, 2020. "Data-Driven Mergers and Personalization," Monash Economics Working Papers 16-20, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    14. Phansatarn, Thunwar & Srinuan, Chalita, 2024. "Analysis of Thailand's fixed broadband internet services demand: A merger screening of AIS and 3BB," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(2).
    15. Tomaso Duso & Lea Bernhardt & Joanna Piechucka, 2024. "The Evolution of Theories of Harm in EU Merger Control," CESifo Working Paper Series 11218, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital Markets; Mergers; Network Effects; Big Data; Platforms; Ex-post; Antitrust;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L4 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies
    • K21 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Antitrust Law

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    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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