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Does data portability facilitate entry?

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  • Lam, Wing Man Wynne
  • Liu, Xingyi

Abstract

Data portability rules are generally thought to encourage consumers to switch between different service providers and facilitate entry of new firms. Some of these rules, however, only apply to data “provided by” the consumer (data subject), e.g., purchasing patterns. Data “derived by” a firm (data controller) with the help of data analytics, e.g., recommendations derived from purchasing patterns, does not fall under data portability rules. We show that, under the current legislation along with extensive use of data analytics, data portability may hinder switching and entry due to the demand-expansion effect: the prospect of easier switching due to data portability may entice consumers to provide even more data to the incumbent, which strengthens the incumbency advantage. Hence, the effectiveness of data portability in fostering competition will depend on what types of data are portable. More generally, in analysing the effectiveness of polices aiming at reducing ex post switching costs, it is important to take into account their impacts on ex ante actions that build up endogenous entry barrier.

Suggested Citation

  • Lam, Wing Man Wynne & Liu, Xingyi, 2020. "Does data portability facilitate entry?," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:69:y:2020:i:c:s016771871930092x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2019.102564
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    Cited by:

    1. Crémer, Jacques & Biglaiser, Gary & Mantovani, Andrea, 2024. "The Economics of the Cloud," TSE Working Papers 24-1520, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    2. Doh-Shin Jeon & Domenico Menicucci, 2024. "Data portability and competition: Can data portability increase both consumer surplus and profits?," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 145-162, April.
    3. de Cornière, Alexandre & Taylor, Greg, 2023. "Data and Competition: A Simple Framework," TSE Working Papers 23-1404, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE), revised Aug 2024.
    4. Prado, Tiago S., 2022. "Safeguarding Competition in Digital Markets: A Comparative Analysis of Emerging Policy and Regulatory Regimes," 31st European Regional ITS Conference, Gothenburg 2022: Reining in Digital Platforms? Challenging monopolies, promoting competition and developing regulatory regimes 265666, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    5. Doh-Shin Jeon & Domenico Menicucci & Nikrooz Nasr, 2023. "Compatibility Choices, Switching Costs, and Data Portability," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(1), pages 30-73, February.
    6. Giovannetti, Emanuele & Siciliani, Paolo, 2023. "Platform Competition and Incumbency Advantage under Heterogeneous Lock-in effects," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Data portability; GDPR; Entry barrier;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K2 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law
    • L5 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy
    • L8 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services

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