Price discrimination is a common feature of many oligopolistic markets. Describe the different types of price discrimination,
Question:
Price discrimination is a common feature of many oligopolistic markets. Describe the different types of price discrimination, and examine whether a two-sided market (i.e., a platform) is also a form of price discrimination across consumers. In doing so, also discuss the determinants of the pricing strategy of platforms. Pick a platform company that you find interesting and examine its evolution over time. How does the company overcome the vicious cycle that we studied in class? How has the company pricing strategy changed over time? Finally, identify the competitors of the platform and discuss whether consumers benefit from more concentration in the hands of only one platform or whether competition across multiple platforms necessarily improves consumer welfare.