Title：Cross-industry Acquisition by Digital Platforms

Schedule: Dec 25, Mon 1:30-3:00 PM

Location: 诚明楼 (Chengming Hall）RM 315

Introduction: 黃阳光，香港科技大学助理教授，美国华盛顿大学经济学博士。黄教授的研究领域为 Industrial Organization 和 Applied Microeconomics，主要研究内容涉及 auctions, procurement, corruption, financial development, digital economy, online markets，innovation policy，并在Management Science, International Economic Review, Games and Economic Behavior, European Economic Review 等国际著名经济学期刊发表多篇文章。

详情请见https://facultyprofiles.hkust.edu.hk/profiles.php?profile=yangguang-huang-huangyg#publications

Abstract: Major digital platforms frequently make investments and acquisitions across many industries that are not horizontally or vertically related. These cross-industry acquisitions enable platforms to enhance their ecosystems by incorporating diverse digital services and leveraging data synergy. Competition authorities usually do not interfere with cross-industry acquisitions, but such actions can divert financial resources from research and development (R&D) and diminish innovation by digital platforms. When faced with a competing platform, private returns on innovation may decline, further shifting financial resources from innovation to acquisitions. Competition authorities should examine cross-industry acquisition cases based on how they affect innovation, their impact on the target industry, and the role of data.