Self-Preferencing: An Economic Literature-Based Assessment Advocating a Case-By-Case Approach and Compliance Requirements

Self-preferencing is widely perceived as a threat to competition. Within the European Union, it has led to prohibition decisions, such as the Google Shopping case in 2017, commitment-based decisions, such as the Amazon case in 2022, and regulatory initiatives, notably the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”). Self-preferencing can be understood as a form of discrimination and manifests in two primary ways. First, a dual-role platform may prioritize its own services, potentially foreclosing rivals or