The Economic Rationale of United States v. Google

24 Pages Posted: 20 Jan 2022

See all articles by Germán Bet

Germán Bet

University of Florida

Roger D. Blair

University of Florida

Javier D. Donna

University of Florida; Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis

Date Written: January 19, 2022

Abstract

In 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an antitrust suit against Google alleging that Google has unlawfully monopolized the markets for general search services, search advertising, and general search text advertising. The complaint raises questions involving market definition, monopoly power, and monopolizing conduct. In this article, we examine these issues through the lens of microeconomic principles. Our analysis finds that there is a sound economic rationale for the DOJ’s complaint.

Keywords: Monopolization, Google, Antitrust, Search Services, Search Advertising

JEL Classification: K20, K21, K14, K41, L10, L12, L40, L41, L42, M37

Suggested Citation

Bet, Germán and Blair, Roger D. and Donna, Javier D., The Economic Rationale of United States v. Google (January 19, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4012827 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4012827

Germán Bet

University of Florida ( email )

Department of Economics
224 Matherly Hall
Gainesville, FL 32606
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.germanbet.org

Roger D. Blair (Contact Author)

University of Florida ( email )

342 Matherly Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611-7140
United States
352-392-0179 (Phone)
352-392-7860 (Fax)

Javier D. Donna

University of Florida ( email )

Gainesville, FL 32606
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.jdonna.org/

Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis ( email )

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