Descripción del proyecto
Intervenciones de política pública para una competencia leal en los mercados de aplicaciones
Los mercados de aplicaciones como App Store de Apple o Google Play han suscitado el escrutinio de los reguladores por promover sus propias aplicaciones frente a las de terceros, lo que puede distorsionar la competencia y perjudicar la innovación. Sin embargo, existe incertidumbre sobre cómo intervenir de forma óptima contra esta autopreferencia. El equipo del proyecto APPMARKETS, financiado por el CEI, pretende evaluar la eficacia de las intervenciones de política pública frente a la autopreferencia. En el proyecto se evaluarán los efectos y mecanismos de varias intervenciones puestas en práctica en todo el mundo y las comparará para validar las teorías existentes. Las conclusiones ayudarán a las partes interesadas y a los organismos gubernamentales a desarrollar las estrategias adecuadas. En el proyecto se llevarán a cabo cuatro estudios cuasiexperimentales en profundidad utilizando datos a nivel de producto de mercados de aplicaciones móviles e integrará los resultados en una comprensión holística mediante protocolos de medición y análisis.
Objetivo
App markets—such as Apple’s App Store or Google Play—have significant economic importance and drive digital innovation. In 2021, the App Store alone facilitated transactions worth over EUR 511 Bn, which equals the GDP of Sweden.
However, app market operators have also attracted severe scrutiny from regulators due to their integrated gatekeeper structure: they operate a marketplace while also competing within them with their own apps. This gives app market operators an incentive for self-preferencing: they promote their own apps over third-party apps, consequently distorting competition and harming app innovation.
Uncertainty remains regarding how self-preferencing can effectively be counteracted with public policy interventions. Although legislators have advanced bills to restrict self-preferencing, including the Digital Markets Act, existing theoretical models are scant, make mixed predictions, and lack empirical validation. This uncertainty is problematic because app markets represent a complex node of the digital economy where regulatory interference—if not done “right”—can likewise harm innovation.
This project will empirically evaluate which public-policy interventions against self-preferencing are effective in restoring app developers’ innovation incentives. It will (i) explain the effects, conditions, and mechanisms through which the interventions function and compare, (ii) permit a validation of existing theory, and (iii) aid stakeholders and government agencies in developing appropriate strategies.
To achieve this objective, this project will (i) conduct four in-depth quasi-experimental studies, (ii) which exploit plausibly exogenous policy-changes against self-preferencing, (iii) leverage unique time-series product-level data from mobile app markets, and (iv) integrate the findings into a holistic understanding using measurement and analyses protocols. An extensive communication plan ensures the transfer of scientific expertise into public knowledge.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitución de acogida
80333 Muenchen
Alemania