AI summary · arXiv: 2011.03879v1 · econ.TH

Platform-Mediated Competition

Quitzé Valenzuela-Stookey
Original paper Submitted to arXiv on 08 Nov. 2020 License: NONEXCLUSIVE-DISTRIB 1.0

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The essentials

  • Cross-group externalities and network effects are well-studied factors in two-sided platform markets
  • Within-group externalities arising from many-to-many matchings on a platform have received less attention
  • Such externalities occur when the value to an agent of matching with another agent depends on the set of agents with which the latter is matched
  • The paper characterizes platform-optimal matchings in a general model of many-to-many matching with within-group externalities
  • The author proves a set of comparative statics results for optimal matchings and demonstrates how these can be used to analyze welfare effects resulting from changes such as vertical integration by the platform, horizontal mergers between firms on one side of the market, and modifications in the platform's information structure
  • The paper explores market structure and regulation in two detailed applications: monopolistic competition between firms on a retail platform like Amazon, and how multi-channel video program distributors (MVPDs) negotiate transfer fees with television channels and bundle them to sell to individuals
  • This research sheds light on an important yet understudied aspect of many-to-many matching platforms: within-group externalities.

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AI-generated keywords: Within-group externalities two-sided platform markets network effects comparative statics welfare implications

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  • Original abstract
In the world of two-sided platform markets, cross-group externalities and network effects are well-studied factors that shape market structure and competition policy. However, within-group externalities arising from many-to-many matchings on a platform have received less attention. These externalities occur when the value to an agent of matching with another agent depends on the set of agents with which the latter is matched. Such effects are present in various settings where firms compete for individuals' attention or custom. In this paper, Quitzé Valenzuela-Stookey characterizes platform-optimal matchings in a general model of many-to-many matching with within-group externalities. The author proves a set of comparative statics results for optimal matchings and demonstrates how these can be used to analyze welfare effects resulting from changes such as vertical integration by the platform, horizontal mergers between firms on one side of the market, and modifications in the platform's information structure. The paper also explores market structure and regulation in two detailed applications. The first application involves monopolistic competition between firms on a retail platform like Amazon. The second application examines how multi-channel video program distributors (MVPDs) negotiate transfer fees with television channels and bundle them to sell to individuals. Overall, this paper sheds light on an important yet understudied aspect of many-to-many matching platforms: within-group externalities. By providing insights into optimal matchings and their associated welfare implications under different scenarios, this research contributes to our understanding of competition policy in two-sided markets.

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