Enforced compatibility and control of switching costs in markets with network externalities: an experiment

Tomasz Kopczewski (), Michal Krawczyk and Przemysław Kusztelak

Ekonomia journal, 2013, vol. 35

Abstract: We experimentally investigate two competition policy measures relevant for markets with network externalities: mandating technological compatibility and lowering the cost of switching between providers. We do so in a virtual market with the roles of both sellers and buyers being played by student subjects. We find only limited support for usefulness of the analyzed measures: our treatment manipulations have no effect on sellers’ pricing strategies. They do, however, reduce individual lock-in, helping the buyers to obtain the currently cheaper variant and thus increase customers’ welfare.

Keywords: network externalities; lock-in; technology standards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eko:ekoeko:35_45

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