Pembroke Host Conference on Digital Economy

On 22nd May 2017, the University of Oxford Centre for Competition Law and Policy hosted an event on the digital economy at Pembroke College, Oxford, titled ‘Online Markets and Offline Welfare Effects: The Internet, Competition, Society and Democracy’.

The following summary is written by Professor Ariel Ezrachi, Pembroke Fellow and Tutor in Law and Slaughter and May Professor of Competition Law, one of the organisers of the event. 

The event, which took place in the Pichette Auditorium in Pembroke College, Oxford, brought together more than 170 delegates from academia, practice, industry, enforcement agencies and courts, to discuss the changing dynamics of competition. The stimulating discussion focused on the changing technological landscape and market dynamics and how these may affect competition and welfare.

Themes discussed included the scope of competition enforcement, the role of disruptive innovation, whether privacy forms one of the values protected by competition law, the impact increased online concentration may have on the market for ideas, democracy, choice and autonomy.

Leading enforcers who participated at the event provided illuminating insights to enforcement trends. These included Lord David Currie (Chairman, UK Competition and Markets Authority), Isabelle de Silva (President, Autorité de la Concurrence), Terrell McSweeny (Commissioner, US Federal Trade Commission), Mario Monti (The Senate of the Italian Republic), Andreas Mundt (President, German Bundeskartellamt), Lord Larry Whitty (House of Lords) and Tommaso Valletti (DG Competition, European Commission)

Their comments made headlines during the day, as they were reported by several news outlets. Notable was a report by Reuters that disseminated news from Tommasso Valletti, who noted that the EU Commission will conclude the Google antitrust cases in next few months. Other outlets commented on Andreas Mundt’s speech and the role privacy plays in competition law analysis.

Tweets from the event 

“Bravo for bringing together a fascinating group of folks at #Oxfordcclp today. Excellent brain food”

“Congrats to @UniofOxford for the wonderfully organised conference. Setting the bar very high #oxfordcclp”

“Thx #oxfordcclp & panelists for a great discussion of complex issues for enforcers in digital economy.”

“what a panel !”

“Monti nails it: what is role for antitrust in age of mistrust?”