CADE issues updated study on digital platform markets

On 21 August, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) issued an updated study on digital platform markets. It is the 19th volume of the series “Cadernos do Cade”, a reviewed version of the edition published in 2021, which focuses on new digital platforms identified and analysed by the agency.

The objective of the research is to show the steps of CADE’s reviews and the case law of the institution in the proceedings related to mergers and investigations of anticompetitive conducts in several sectors that use digital platforms.

In this regard, the new edition presents decisions of the Tribunal of CADE about matters in sectors such as online retail of agricultural, pets, beverages, pharmaceutical drugs, cosmetics, and personal hygiene products.

Although online retail is not always considered a digital platform, the study points out that it has been gaining notoriety through the growth of marketplace models (platforms that connect supply and demand, joining vendors and buyers in a virtual environment). According to the publication, this sector of digital platform markets represents the majority of the mergers reviewed by CADE in the period.

“Through this edition, institutional publications, cooperation with other antitrust agencies, seminars, and personnel training, CADE demonstrates that it is committed to constant self-evaluation and proper personnel training to face the challenges imposed by the digital economy which is constantly updating,” as stated in the document.

Cadernos do Cade

First issued in 2014, Cadernos do Cade is a series of documents the Department of Economic Studies regularly publishes to consolidate, systematise and disclose CADE’s case law related to a specific market – considering that market’s economic and competitive aspects.

The study guides CADE towards its institutional mission of providing technical and practical knowledge and contributing to academic works related to antitrust matters.

The reviewed and updated edition of the study “Mercados de Plataformas Digitais” is available here.