Le réseau stratégique et la concurrence illustrés par le cas M/N (Microsoft versus Netscape)

Despite many attempts to define the concept of network, the economic approach of this term remains subject to controversy. By analysing the links that have a direct influence on the innovation process, an attempt is made to evaluate the network's impact on competitive dynamics, development, and diffusion of technologies. At the first glance, this impact seems positive, but by distinguishing three types of competitive dynamics : intra-network, inter-networks and extra-networks, it appears to be more controversial. The analysis of the M/N case confirms that in presence of a dominant firm, the networks create entry-barriers that restrain extranetworks competition and force firms to join existing networks, which at mid term, may increase the effective degree of concentration and impede the development and diffusion of innovations.