Network Neutrality on the Internet: A Two-Sided Market Analysis

15 Pages Posted: 4 Oct 2007 Last revised: 25 Oct 2012

See all articles by Nicholas Economides

Nicholas Economides

New York University - Leonard N. Stern School of Business - Department of Economics

Joacim Tåg

Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN); Hanken School of Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 2012

Abstract

We discuss network neutrality regulation of the Internet in the context of a two-sided market model. Platforms sell broadband Internet access services to residential consumers and may set fees to content and application providers on the Internet. When access is monopolized, cross-group externalities (network effects) can give a rationale for network neutrality regulation (requiring zero fees to content providers): there exist parameter ranges for which network neutrality regulation increases the total surplus compared to the fully private optimum at which the monopoly platform imposes positive fees on content providers. However, for other parameter values, network neutrality regulation can decrease total surplus. Extending the model to a duopoly of residential broadband ISPs, we again find parameter values such that network neutrality regulation increases total surplus suggesting that network neutrality regulation could be warranted even when some competition is present.

Keywords: Network neutrality, two-sided markets, Internet, monopoly, duopoly, regulation, discrimination, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Google

JEL Classification: L1, D4, L12, L13, C63, D42, D43

Suggested Citation

Economides, Nicholas and Tåg, Joacim, Network Neutrality on the Internet: A Two-Sided Market Analysis (August 2012). Information Economics and Policy, Vol. 24, 2012, NET Institute Working Paper No. 07-45, NYU Law and Economics Research Paper 07-40, NYU Working Paper No. 2451/26057, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1019121 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1019121

Nicholas Economides (Contact Author)

New York University - Leonard N. Stern School of Business - Department of Economics ( email )

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Joacim Tåg

Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) ( email )

Box 55665
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Stockholm, SE-102 15
Sweden

Hanken School of Economics ( email )

PB 287
Helsinki, Vaasa 65101
Finland

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