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Competing data intermediaries

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  • Shota Ichihashi

Abstract

I study a model of competition between data intermediaries, which collect personal data from consumers and sell them to downstream firms. Competition has a limited impact on benefiting consumers: If intermediaries offer high compensation for data, consumers share data with multiple intermediaries, which lowers the downstream price of data and hurts intermediaries. Anticipating this, intermediaries offer low compensation for data. Although consumers are exclusive suppliers of data, the nonrivalry of data can lead to concentration and high intermediary profits in data markets. In particular, if downstream firms use data to extract surplus from consumers, competing intermediaries sustain a monopoly outcome.

Suggested Citation

  • Shota Ichihashi, 2021. "Competing data intermediaries," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 52(3), pages 515-537, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:randje:v:52:y:2021:i:3:p:515-537
    DOI: 10.1111/1756-2171.12382
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    Cited by:

    1. Yiquan Gu & Leonardo Madio & Carlo Reggiani, 2022. "Data brokers co-opetition [The impact of big data on firm performance: an empirical investigation]," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 74(3), pages 820-839.
    2. Flavio Pino, 2022. "The microeconomics of data – a survey," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 49(3), pages 635-665, September.
    3. DELBONO Flavio & REGGIANI Carlo & SANDRINI Luca, 2021. "Strategic data sales to competing firms," JRC Working Papers on Digital Economy 2021-05, Joint Research Centre.
    4. Haifei Yu & Shanshan Zheng & Hao Wu, 2023. "User Privacy Awareness, Incentive and Data Supply Chain Pricing Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-24, February.
    5. Delbono, Flavio & Reggiani, Carlo & Sandrini, Luca, 2024. "Strategic data sales with partial segment profiling," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    6. Luis Guijarro & Jos'e-Ram'on Vidal & Vicent Pla, 2025. "Entry deterrence by exploiting economies of scope in data aggregation," Papers 2501.07235, arXiv.org.
    7. Ronen Gradwohl & Moshe Tennenholtz, 2023. "Selling Data to a Competitor (Extended Abstract)," Papers 2307.05078, arXiv.org.
    8. Chang, Qing & Wu, Mengtao & Zhang, Longtian, 2024. "Endogenous growth and human capital accumulation in a data economy," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 298-312.
    9. Ichihashi, Shota, 2021. "The economics of data externalities," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    10. Andrei Hagiu & Julian Wright, 2023. "Data‐enabled learning, network effects, and competitive advantage," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 54(4), pages 638-667, December.
    11. Cong, Lin William & Wei, Wenshi & Xie, Danxia & Zhang, Longtian, 2022. "Endogenous growth under multiple uses of data," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).

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