The Impulse to Condemn the Strange: Assessing Big Data in Antitrust

CPI Antitrust Chronicle, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 16-20, February 2020

George Mason Law & Economics Research Paper No. 20-07

7 Pages Posted: 12 Mar 2020

See all articles by Alexander Krzepicki

Alexander Krzepicki

Antonin Scalia Law School

Joshua D. Wright

George Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law School, Faculty

John M. Yun

George Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law School, Faculty

Date Written: March 11, 2020

Abstract

An emerging refrain in antitrust dialog is that the accumulation and use of big data is a unique and particularly troublesome entry barrier, worthy of antitrust scrutiny. Yet, it seems that both the concept of big data and entry barriers continue to be used in a highly casual and superficial manner. In this article, we argue that big data should properly be considered a two-stage process. In stage one, a firm collects the data. In stage two, a firm transforms the data into some benefit that ultimately increases profitability. We also discuss whether big data should be considered an entry barrier, which, in a broad and abstract sense, measures the relative difficulty of obtaining necessary inputs to production.

Keywords: big data, antitrust, entry barrier, barriers to entry, antitrust law, U.S. antitrust agencies

JEL Classification: K21

Suggested Citation

Krzepicki, Alexander and Wright, Joshua D. and Yun, John M., The Impulse to Condemn the Strange: Assessing Big Data in Antitrust (March 11, 2020). CPI Antitrust Chronicle, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 16-20, February 2020, George Mason Law & Economics Research Paper No. 20-07, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3544218

Alexander Krzepicki

Antonin Scalia Law School ( email )

3301 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
United States

Joshua D. Wright

George Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law School, Faculty ( email )

3301 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
United States

John M. Yun (Contact Author)

George Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law School, Faculty ( email )

3301 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
United States

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