Buyer power, Competition law and platforms

Abstract

Buyer power in input markets, and in particular labour markets, have received the attention of the press, antitrust authorities and scholars in the recent past. Anticompetitive behaviour by global technology giants is an ongoing concern. A combination of the two raises serious issues. This paper looks at the economics behind buyer power and discusses it in relation to competition law and digital markets including platforms. A short discussion about the implications of these developments for India is provided.