4 ms·
Google's products are free. That's not a monopoly.
by studentrob 7y ago
Google's products are free. That's not a monopoly.
- nabla9 7y agoGoogle's sells advertising. The idea that two-sided market can't have market failures because one side gets free services is not very strong one.
- studentrob 7y agoAbout the ad business, are businesses getting gouged by Google such that they need help from the government?
- nabla9 7y agoYes. There is evidence that Google and Facebook have monopoly power. Google has 80-90% market share in search and Facebook has similar market share in social media ads. Network externalities make it hard to compete with them. You can also make case about collusion between FB and Google emerging around 2010-2013. They have divided the markets and have stopped competing. It's hard to find evidence that it's intentional. It can be just understanding emerging from single meeting or natural development. Whatever the reason they seem to avoid direct competition.
- anoncake 7y agoThat doesn't even make sense. Not charging isn't part of the definition of a monopoly.