Background and Objective: The rapid growth of digitalisation in the modern economy is transforming markets and challenging competition policy. As the internet and the availability of big data increase competition, innovation is fundamental to survival. During the workshop, prominent academics working in the field of Industrial Organization and Digital Economics will provide short lectures on relevant competition and regulatory issues in digital markets. In the remaining time, workshop participants will present their research and discussion papers. We welcome theoretical, empirical as well as policy-oriented submissions to discuss recent contributions. Topics of interest include: Digital Platforms; Media Markets; Advertising; Privacy – E-commerce; Digital Marketing; Regulation and Competition Policy of the Digital Economy; Economics of Big Data, Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence; Intellectual Property Rights; ICT, Productivity and Growth; Innovation and Standards; Internet and Search; Net Neutrality; Networks and Pricing; Telecommunications; Internet and Software Industries.

Conference Date and Location: Stellenbosch, 30 September – 01 October 2022

Keynote speakers: TBC

Organising committee: Willem Boshoff (University of Stellenbosch) Lukasz Grzybowski (University of Cape Town)

Submissions: The deadline for submissions is Friday, 15 June 2022. Submit to workshops@econrsa.org. Only papers submitted by the deadline will be considered. Notification of acceptance will be given in due course. No workshop fee will be charged and Economic Research South Africa (ERSA) will cover accommodation and travel expenses for South African participants. A 1-day ERSA workshop took place on 30th September 2022 in Stellenbosch. During the workshop prominent academics working in the field of Industrial Organization and Digital Economics provided short lectures on relevant competition and regulatory issues in digital markets. In the remaining time, workshop participants presented their research and discussion papers.

Workshop Program

• Elvis Avenyo (University of Johannesburg): Digital platforms and development: A survey of the literature
• Yegnanew Shiferaw (University of Johannesburg): Analysis of gender gaps and differences in access to and use of digital technologies in small areas of South Africa: An application of the spatial Fay-Herriot model
• Grace Nsomba (University of Johannesburg, CCRED): The regulation of interconnection and regulatory alignment in the Southern African Development Community
• Petrus Potgieter (UNISA): The profitability of flat-price broadband with an over-the-top subscription content product-benefits from cooperation.
• Zubair Patel (University of Cape Town, Acacia Economics): The impact of mobile phones on change in employment status in South Africa
• Wawa Nkosi (University of Stellenbosch): The relationship between mergers and cartels in South Africa
• Dumakude Nxumalo (University of Pretoria): Estimating bank substitutability using personal transactional account usage in South Africa
• Jan-Louis van Tonder (Genesis Analytics): The impact of household energy efficient products on consumers’ willingness to pay: implications for regulation
• Wihan Marais (University of Stellenbosch): Competition between mobile telecoms firms from a global perspective
• Julius Nyamwena (University of Johannesburg, CCRED): Online platforms as a route to markets, a case study of Airbnb South Africa and South African accommodation industry
• Megan Friday (Acacia Economics): The Law and Economics of potential competition in digital markets: case studies in online intermediation platforms
• Prince Chingole (University of Stellenbosch): A review of prohibited mergers: MIH/WBC