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Behavioral Economics, Internet Search, and Antitrust

By  |  March 27, 2014

Posted by Social Science Research Network

Behavioral Economics, Internet Search, and Antitrust – Adam Candeub (Michigan State University College of Law)

ABSTRACT: Google’s domination of online search in Europe and the United States has attracted antitrust scrutiny. The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “the commission”) recently concluded an investigation but declined to take major enforcement action, and investigation of the European Commission (“EC”) continues to drag on. These investigations covered a variety of allegedly anticompetitive behavior, such as “manipulat[ing] Google search results to penalize competitors or to privilege other Google products and features.” In addition, numerous private antitrust suits have been filed against Google, though none so far successful.