Digital Platforms and Competition Policy in Developing Countries

Big tech platforms have become a subject of intense antitrust scrutiny in developed economies, most recently in the United States. The thesis of this article is that the power of platforms is not just a first world problem, however, but is also an issue of importance for competition policy in developing countries. These platforms present different costs and benefits for developing countries than for developed countries; in particular, the major big tech platforms have become important tools for further digital platform innovation in developing economies. The article begins with a discussion of the connection between competition law, innovation, and development. The article then discusses how digital platform technologies are employed in Africa in four areas—online retail sales, value chains, financial technology products (fintech), and sharing platforms. The article concludes with a discussion of the lessons these developments have for competition policy in developing countries