Software platforms are a critical component of the computer systems underpinning leading edge products ranging from third generation mobile phones to video games. After describing some key economic features of computer systems and software platforms, the paper presents case studies of personal...

Software platforms are a critical component of the computer systems underpinning leading edge products ranging from third generation mobile phones to video games. After describing some key economic features of computer systems and software platforms, the paper presents case studies of personal...

Many diverse industries are populated by businesses that operate two-sided platforms. These businesses serve distinct groups of customers who need each other in some way, and the core business of the two-sided platform is to provide a common (real or virtual) meeting place and to facilitate...

This Chapter provides a survey of the economics literature on multi-sided platforms with particular focus on competition policy issues, including market definition, mergers, monopolization, and coordinated behavior. It provides a survey of the general industrial organization theory of...