ECIPE Webinar: Platform Regulation and Merger Policy – Implications for Countries’ Investment Attractiveness

Small trade and investment driven economies like the UK are faced with the question of whether or not they should regulate competition in technology and digital services markets, and if so how.

Competition policy targeted at large technology platforms often relies on presumptions rather than evidence of real consumer harm. At the same time, interventions in digital services markets can have far-reaching consequences for innovation, technology adoption, and investment.

Join us for an expert discussion on how competition enforcement impacts a country‘s investment attractiveness and ambitions for economic and innovation leadership.

• What motivates competition authorities to restrict business opportunities and trade for large technology platforms?
• How does access to globally traded platform services impact a country’s innovation and investment attractiveness?
• Why is “tipping” viewed as a concern in competition theory?
• Are these concerns justified?
• Are claims about “killer acquisitions” backed by empirical evidence?
• How do corporate conduct bans and restrictions impact investment activities and start-up activity?
• Which aspects should competition regulators weigh when evaluating mergers in technology-driven industries?
• What should competition watchdogs really do to protect consumers from unfair competition?