Big Tech platforms have become an inseparable part of our daily lives—shaping how we communicate, access information, and make decisions. However, the natural monopoly dynamics of digital platform markets have concentrated immense powers in the hands of just a few private entities. For-profits have developed closed, shielded, and incompatible ecosystems that allow their owners to capture users and benefit. Positive platform externalities have allowed tipping to Big Techs that need not fear entry or rivalry. While the disciplining force of competition could foster better alternatives and greater choice, it remains constrained by structural barriers and anticompetitive practices. 

Day 1 – Thursday 22 May

Session 1: Big Tech Power and Policy

09:30–12:00 | Aula, University of Amsterdam

On Thursday morning, internet expert and open source advocate Marleen Stikker (Waag Futurelab/HvA) and digital platform economist and behavioural theorist Paul Heidhues (DICE) will present their latest thinking on digital platform power problems, ecosystems theories of harm, and possible remedies to help restore open, free, and competitive online services.

Programme

• 9:30 Registration and coffee
• 10:00 Opening by chair Maarten Pieter Schinkel (UvA)
• 10:15–11.00  Marleen Stikker (Waag Futurelab/HvA) – How to Reclaim the Internet

• 11:00–12:00 Paul Heidhues (DICE) – A Theory of Digital Ecosystem

Registration
This is an interdisciplinary academic event that aims to foster meaningful dialogue between researchers and policymakers in platform economics. Participation is free, but registration is required due to limited seating. You will receive confirmation of your seat by email. A livestream will be available for registered participants.

Session 2: PhD Defence of Papers in the Economics of Platforms

14:00–15:30 | Aula, University of Amsterdam

Following the morning programme, UvA PhD candidate Ruben van Oosten will defend his thesis titled Papers in the Economics of Platforms. 

Programme

• 14:00–15:30 Ruben van Oosten (University of Amsterdam) – Papers in the Economics of Platforms (PDF download). A livestream link is available to view the thesis defense. 

Registration
The defence is a public academic event that you are welcome to attend as audience if you are interested. There is no registration.

Day 2 – Friday 23 May

Session 3: Tinbergen Institute Workshop on Structural Remedies for Restoring Platform Competition

09:00–12:00 | Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam

On Friday morning, Tinbergen Institute will host academics who will present their latest research on platform market power and structural remedies to restore competition.

Programme

• Jan Krämer (University of Passau) and Alexander Witte (University of Passau) – Evaluating Structural and Behavioral Remedies for Anticompetitive Conducts in the Ad Tech Ecosystem
• Zlatina Georgieva (Utrecht University) and Todd Davies (University College London) – Google AdTech: Break Up or Break Out?
• Shiva Shekhar (Tilburg University) and Antonio Russo (Institut Mines-Télécom Business School) – Digital Ecosystems: The AdTech Tax and Content Quality

Additional details about the workshop can be found on the Tinbergen Institute website.

Registration
This workshop is intended for academics and policymakers specialising in platform economics. Participation is by invitation or registration only. Separate registration for this workshop is required. If we can admit you, you will receive confirmation by email. Registration is personal and cannot be extended without prior approval.

Organisation

This event is organised by the Amsterdam Center for Digital Competition (ACDC) and the Tinbergen Institute.

Amsterdam Center for Digital Competition (ACDC)

The Amsterdam Center for Digital Competition (ACDC) is a new, not-for-profit and certainly not dominant research platform at University of Amsterdam that seeks to bring together academics, leading thinkers, and policymakers to discuss cutting-edge research on digital platforms, market structures, and regulatory interventions. Hosted by the University of Amsterdam, the event provides a forum for in-depth discussions on competition policy and structural remedies in digital markets.

Tinbergen Institute (TI)

Tinbergen Institute is the graduate school and research institute in economics and business, jointly operated by the schools of economics of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

Questions

For further questions or inquiries, please contact the organisers, Sander Onderstal, Maarten Pieter Schinkel, and Ruben van Oosten, at events-ase@uva.nl.