Answer ALL three questions
below in an essay form and conduct a critical analysis. Support your analysis
with accurate legal research and emphasise challenges and legislative and case
law developments (no more than 3000 words):
1. What are the economic
and societal benefits that the emergence of digital platforms brought about?
Which are the specific competition law and policy challenges that the business
model and rise to power of digital platforms brought about?
2. Reflecting on recent
cases involving digital platforms, how far did the existing competition rules
on e.g. cartels, abuse of a dominant position or mergers address the new
challenges posed by the market power of digital platforms? Which weakness in
the substantive rules and enforcement of competition law did they reveal?
3. What are the risks involved in stricter competition rules for digital
platforms as discussed in the European Union and the UK? Support your arguments
with examples from Article 101 TFEU, Chapter I of the UK Competition Act 1998
and or 102 Chapter II of the UK Competition Act 1998 and or Merger control, and
or the recent legislative proposals/developments. Critically comment also on
the possible implications on consumer welfare.