Prices and Mergers in a General Model of Multi-Sided Markets

Raúl Bajo-Buenestado, Markus Kinateder and Raul Bajo-Buenestado
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Raúl Bajo-Buenestado

No 10818, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: We present a general and tractable oligopoly model of multi-sided platforms with endogenous side and platform choices of heterogeneous end-users, considering any mix of single-homing and multi-homing platforms and in which participating on one side could preclude doing so on others. We show the existence of a unique equilibrium number of end-users and characterize optimal platform pricing. Using the equilibrium conditions, we formally derive (across sides and platforms) switching effects that distort optimal pricing, which can lead to markups exceeding the Lerner index and rule out the classical “cross-subsidization” result. We then provide a unifying framework to analyze multi-sided platform mergers, which rationalizes mixed results from the previous literature by providing, based on the switching effects, a set of conditions that predict the upward pricing pressure post-merger. We show that while optimal pricing is determined by the nature of end-users’ side choices, their platform choices are crucial for merger analysis.

Keywords: multi-sided markets; heterogeneous end-users; endogenous side choice; mergers of platforms; digital platforms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D43 G34 L11 L13 L22 L86 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-com, nep-ind, nep-mic, nep-pay and nep-reg
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