Acquisitions made by big tech companies and the impact on competition and innovation : A Google and Amazon application

Files

Supervisors: Vannetelbosch, Vincent
Faculty: Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication
Degree label: Master [120] en sciences économiques, orientation générale, à finalité spécialisée
Abstract: The GAFAMs have made numerous acquisitions since their creation. This practice has attracted the attention of the authorities. The thesis focuses on the literature that addresses their business model, acquisition strategy, and impact on innovation and competition. We will then cover the specificities of digital markets and how authorities can regulate them. We will then apply these reflections to two acquisitions made by Amazon on the one hand and by Google on the other. We will then be able to see the difficulties faced by the authorities: the conclusions are highly debatable, from the definition of the relevant market to the evaluation of possible anti-competitive practices. The search for a welfare surplus, followed by the authorities, is not so easy. Note that we will not cover all the discussed points in this part. Since the first objective of the thesis is a general analysis of the subject, the practical application only abords a part of the literature.