Advanced Seminar Economics, Policy & Econometrics: Economics of Digital Platforms

What it is about

You will deal with the economics of digital platforms: How do platforms generate and manage network effects, which price and non-price strategies do they use, and how do they compete (e.g., compatibility, multi-homing, mergers)? In the end you will be able to read, reflect on scientific papers on the topic, and derive implications for market behavior and economic policy questions.

What you will be able to do

• Understand concepts of the Economics of Digital Platforms
• Analyze network effects and drivers of platforms
• Evaluate price and non-price strategies of platforms
• Assess the effects of platform behavior on economic welfare
• Read, summarize and critically reflect on scientific articles
• Derive policy recommendations from scientific evidence
• Communicate results clearly in writing and orally

What the module consists of

• Vorlesung / SeminarIntroduction to topics and discourse; students present and discuss research findings
• PräsentationStudents present their work in a 30-minute presentation and lead the subsequent discussion
• SelbststudiumIndependent reading and working on the assigned scientific articles

Teaching method

• Selbststudium wissenschaftlicher ArtikelSo that you learn to read scientific papers independently and classify their content
• Betreuung durch DozierendeCoaching during the semester to support research and elaboration
• Gruppenarbeit (ermutigt)Promotes collaborative research, discussion and preparation of paper and presentation
• SeminarpräsentationenCommunication of findings to the group and practice of scientific discussion