Critical minerals are essential for advanced industries like semiconductors, electric vehicles, and batteries, as well as for clean energy infrastructure. Major countries are actively pursuing trade agreements to ensure stable supplies of these minerals. This study analyzes key countries’ trade agreements related to critical minerals and derives insights for Korea’s policies and trade negotiations. The study narrows its focus to binding trade agreements between countries.

Traditionally, mineral and energy regulations in trade agreements were declarative, but recent agreements by the U.S., EU, and Japan have introduced specific obligations and linked these to environmental and labor standards. The EU includes energy and raw materials (ERM) chapters in its trade agreements, while the U.S. tends to establish stand-alone agreements on critical minerals. The EU’s proactive engagement with resource-rich countries aims to reduce price volatility and promote fair trade, while U.S. agreements, such as with Japan, are primarily driven by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) electric vehicle subsidies and focus on establishing supply chains with allied nations. The U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals Agreement, for example, emphasizes the management of environmental and social risks within supply chains through well-defined environmental and labor provisions.

Based on these international trends, this study proposes the inclusion of a Raw Materials Chapter in Korea’s future Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), bench-marking the critical minerals agreements of the EU and the U.S. Specifically, this proposal aligns with the “Critical Minerals Security Strategy” announced by the Korean government in 2023, which advocates for expanded bilateral and multilateral cooperation and enhanced collaboration on critical mineral supply chains in FTA negotiations. When pursuing critical minerals agreements, Korea must carefully consider various elements such as the selection of partner countries, contents and types of agreement to pursue, and the order in which to conduct negotiations, as these factors are intricately interconnected and can influence the outcomes of other aspects.

In negotiating critical minerals agreements, several key provisions should be considered, including the definition of minerals, trade facilitation, exploration and production permits, environmental protection, labor rights, and cooperation clauses. For example, trade facilitation provisions might include prohibitions on export quotas, export tariffs, and price caps to mitigate financial risks and price volatility for companies.

The environmental and labor provisions evident in the EU-Chile FTA and the U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals Agreement are essential to aligning with the global trend of enhancing supply chain ESG standards and emphasizing responsible sourcing. It is necessary that Korea incorporates these provisions into its agreements, thereby ensuring mineral procurement is conducted in accordance with international standards. However, the adherence to international environmental and labor standards and the associated monitoring may impose additional costs on companies. Thus, a balanced approach is necessary, in hand with dialogue and coordination between the government and businesses to achieve consensus before negotiations.

Executive Summary
I. Introduction
II. Theory and Hypotheses
III. Data and Methodology
IV. Empirical Results
V. Policy Implications
References

While prior research has highlighted digitalization as a potential avenue for enhancing domestic revenue mobilization—a crucial component for the long-term economic and political development of economies—the relationship between digitalization and domestic revenue mobilization remains underexplored. This working paper contributes to the existing literature by examining how the interplay between digitalization and the government’s capacity to tax is influenced by governance quality, an aspect largely overlooked in previous studies. Empirical findings based on a time-series cross-sectional dataset including up to 159 economies from 2004 to 2021 show that a higher level of digitalization alone does not necessarily translate into a higher non-resource tax revenue-to-GDP ratio. However, when digitalization is coupled with sound governance—specifically in terms of voice and accountability or regulatory quality—it significantly boosts domestic revenue mobilization. The study also finds that the interaction effects between digitalization and these governance variables vary according to the levels of digitalization and development across economies. The findings and case studies presented in this paper underscore the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks alongside digitalization efforts to ensure enduring success in mobilizing domestic revenue, offering valuable insights especially for developing APEC economies where the potential for improvement is most pronounced.

This research studies the role of international trade in the economic growth paths of five Southeast Asian nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). We evaluate the export-led growth strategies of the five nations and derive policy implications for Korea.

Chapter 2 elaborates on the economic growth paths of the five nations from the perspective of economic growth convergence. Introducing the comparative approach with growth convergence analysis allows the authors to delineate how the economic growth paths of these five Southeast Asian nations should be understood in terms of the speed and magnitude of the convergence. We find that the speed and magnitude of growth convergence in the five Southeast Asian nations are faster and more prominent compared to the world average. Country-specific estimations confirm that economic convergence is significantly explicit in Malaysia and Thailand, resonating with “middle-income trap” diagnoses on both nations.

We extend discussions by comparing growth convergence in these five Southeast Asian nations to that in the three East Asian nations of China, Japan, and Korea. Growth convergence is significantly identified in four nations: Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand. These four nations have already experienced rapid economic growth. Malaysia and Thailand followed convergent growth paths before joining the high-income group, and this is marked as a big difference compared to Japan and Korea, where growth convergence started after they had become high-income nations.

In nations currently undergoing accelerated economic growth, such as China and Vietnam, economic growth convergence is not statistically significant. We also could not find evidence of growth convergence in Indonesia and the Philippines. As growth convergence cannot be directly linked to growth slowdown, we analyzed the dynamics of structural change in four nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand) that have accessible sectoral data. We ascertained whether a sector with higher productivity attracts more labor share within a national economy. If this productive labor reallocation is shown to occur, we can say that a country is going through growth-enhancing structural change, which is a critical factor for long-run rapid growth. According to our estimations, neither of these four nations is going through growth-enhancing structural change.

Chapter 3 clarifies how exports in the five nations are related to their economic growth. We obtain country-level export productivity measures following existing literature and estimate how export productivity can explain the economic growth of each nation. In Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, export productivity has contributed to economic growth. However, in Malaysia and the Philippines, export productivity has not contributed to economic growth. The five nations are actively implementing export-led growth strategies to overcome the “middle-income trap” and accelerate their entry into a high-income economy. Chapter 4 comprehensively reviews and evaluates the history of export-led growth strategies in the five nations.

Chapter 5 extends the discussions in Chapter 4 by focusing on recent export-led growth strategies in the 2020s. Indonesia’s Making Indonesia 4.0 project and National RPJMN five-year plan, Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030, National Trade Blueprint 2021-2025, the Philippines’ Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and Philippine Export Development Plan 2023-2028, Thailand’s 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (NESDP), Thailand 4.0 Strategy and MoC Action Plan, and Vietnam’s Strategy on Exports and Imports and expansion of its trade promotion agency (VIETRADE) are introducing export-led growth strategies under the goals and constraints that these five nations are facing. All strategies target the maximized utilization of their respective comparative advantages to promote export growth and job creation.

Based on the recent export-led growth strategies of the five nations outlined in Chapter 5, we derive implications for Korean trade and investment in the areas of ① country-specific optimized cooperation, ② critical minerals/food supply chain cooperation, and ③ cooperation in future strategic industries. First, in the first area, country-specific optimized cooperation, some of the flagship projects in Chapter 5 could provide mutually beneficial business opportunities with Korea. For example, Malaysia clarifies its goals in aerospace industries in its New Industrial Master Plan 2030. Korea established the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) in 2024, which is poised to expand its activities in international cooperation. The Philippine Export Development Plan 2023-2028 suggests how the Philippines can utilize comparative advantages in labor-intensive sectors to attract investment. This can provide incentives for Korean businesses concerned about labor costs in Korea and its low fertility rate issues.

In the second area, critical minerals/food supply chain cooperation, we focus on national strategies provided by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. As a net importer of critical minerals and food, Korea can proactively suggest cooperation packages through which it can contribute to the economic security of Korea and export promotion of the five Southeast Asian nations. For the third area, cooperation in future strategic industries, Korea can collaborate with all five nations in green transition, digital transformation, and semiconductor industries, which are commonly mentioned in each nation’s national strategies in Chapter 5. Working with Korean businesses allows these nations to avoid a dichotomous choice issue between the US and China. Also, as Korean businesses have already attained considerable local networks in ASEAN economies, they can serve as key contributors in constructing an ASEAN-friendly global value chain in future strategic industries.

Executive Summary

I. Introduction

II. Background and Methodology
2.1. Historical Context and Evolution of APEC Ministerial Meetings
2.2. Data Sources and Analytical Methods

III. Changes in Sectoral Composition
3.1. Sectoral Ministerial Meeting Frequency and Trends
3.2. Evolution and Trends in High-level Meetings
3.3. Analysis of Meeting Outcomes and Depth

IV. Thematic Changes in Major Ministerial Meetings
4.1. Evolution of Themes in Annual Ministerial Meetings
4.2. Thematic Shifts in Major Sectoral Meetings
4.3. Changes in Thematic Consistency Over Time
4.4. Interrelationships and Thematic Integration Across Meetings

V. Conclusions

References

Appendix 1. List of Venues for APEC Annual Ministerial Meetings
2. Sector Abbreviations and Full Names
3. Top-terms in Joint Statements by Major Ministerial Meetings
4. Dendrogram of Document Similarity (1994~2023)

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the thematic evolution within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meetings from its inception in 1989 to the present, examining over 460 meeting documents. The research employs both quantitative and qualitative methods, including text mining techniques, to uncover primary themes and shifts in policy focus over time. The study is organized into three main areas: first, it investigates the distribution and evolution of agendas across different levels and sectors of APEC meetings. Second, it tracks thematic changes within sector-specific meetings, with a particular emphasis on trade, finance, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Third, it explores the interconnections among these meetings to reveal the dynamic relationships within APEC’s framework. The findings indicate a significant increase in the number and diversity of APEC meetings, reflecting an expanded agenda addressing more complex and emerging issues such as the digital economy, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. The study also identifies a shift from foundational economic arrangements to more diversified topics, demonstrating APEC’s adaptability to contemporary global challenges. Additionally, the research highlights the evolving hierarchical structure among meetings, with a growing focus on digital economy and sustainability. This work offers valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders involved in regional economic integration and cooperation, showcasing APEC’s role in addressing both traditional and emerging economic challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.

This paper delves into the perceptions of urban residents in developing countries on climate change, underscoring the importance of these insights in formulating effective climate policies. As urban areas in these regions experience rapid growth and heightened vulnerability due to climate impacts, understanding local perspectives becomes crucial for both mitigating and adapting to climate change effectively.

The study contributes to the body of knowledge on public perceptions of climate change, focusing particularly on the urban populations of developing countries. Despite existing literature on the subject, there remains a scarcity of research concerning cross-national variations in climate change perception within this demographic, which this paper seeks to address. To gather detailed empirical evidence, we conducted an online survey with participants from eight major cities in countries across Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The survey primarily assessed climate change awareness, the perceived personal impact of climate changes, and evaluations of governmental and international responses.

The findings reveal that awareness and concerns about climate change significantly differ among urban populations, influenced by educational level, economic status, and direct climate impact experiences. Furthermore, the study explores the heterogeneity in perceptions, which is shaped by a complex interplay of demographic and socio-economic factors. This diversity in perceptions impacts the public's willingness to engage in climate change adaptation measures and supports varied policy preferences at the domestic and international levels.

Also, the findings emphasize the necessity for policymakers to consider the diverse perceptions of urban residents when implementing climate policies. Engaging these communities in developing countries is crucial for achieving widespread support and effective climate action. This approach aligns with the broader goals of sustainable development and international cooperation on climate challenges. By gaining a deeper understanding of varied urban perceptions, policymakers can more effectively prioritize actions and allocate resources in areas where the impact of climate change is most severe and the potential for meaningful change is significant.

In the context of the prolonged and structured U.S.-China strategic competition, the three countries which we examine - the United States, China, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) - must find ways to maximize their respective national interests and value. Nevertheless, due to a lack of mutual understanding between the three countries, they are focusing on attacking each other’s vulnerabilities rather than on long-term strategies for cooperation and competition, thus maximizing their costs. This study is motivated by the need to discuss an approach that conceptualizes the U.S.-China-ROK triangle as a multi-dimensional matrix to address these issues.

This study aims to examine points of conflict and interdependence within the trilateral relationship between the Republic of Korea, the United States, and China. As the dynamics in the trilateral relationship become more complex, progress can be limited and strategic planning becomes more challenging. Thus, this study begins with the premise that it is difficult to perform three-dimensional analysis by examining only the interaction of the three bilateral relationships that form a triangle. In addition to demonstrating the demand for each other, as well as conflicts that may result from consideration of core interests in the interaction of bilateral relations, this study seeks to explore the possibility of stereoscopic and three-dimensional analysis of trilateral relations as a whole.

Building upon this study, the United States and Republic of Korea should work in the direction of expanding their intersecting areas while reducing areas of divergence. The ROK’s strategy should be to increase convergence with the United States and decrease divergence with China. By doing so, it can expand the space for coexistence with China and strengthen its trust relationship with the United States. With the intersection of the U.S.-Korea relationship expanding, it is natural for crises in the Sino-Korea relationship to arise, but there are gaps and places of coexistence within the U.S.-China strategic competition if the parties understand each other’s priorities and red lines and expand the intersections within Korea-China relations.

Satellite data have been used to observe Earth phenomena in a wide range of scientific disciplines, but recent advances in access to satellite data and in the technology required to process them are expanding their use in the social sciences, especially for disadvantaged countries that lack in the capacity to produce statistics or the types of statistics available. Satellites observe the world on the same basis, at regular intervals, and with detailed geographic coverage.

North Korea is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world in terms of statistic data. It publishes very limited economic statistics, and while the outside world may provide estimates of GDP and other statistics, the reliability of these estimates is often questioned due to the lack of raw data. Therefore, recent attempts have been made to analyze the North Korean economy using satellite data.

This study makes a new contribution to the literature on North Korea’s economy using satellite data in two ways. First is the object of the study. Existing studies utilizing satellite data usually analyze at the regional and national levels. Considering the importance of enterprises and the abundance of satellite data and spatial information on enterprises, this study uses satellite data on 179 major enterprises in North Korea to create indicators to measure corporate activities, which are then aggregated at the sub-industry level to create industry indicators. In North Korea, microdata at the firm level is almost non-existent except for the database on frequency of news reports. Industry level statistics are also limited to Bank of Korea’s estimates on GDP by high-level industry classification, namely light and heavy chemical industries for manufacturing, and output of a few items, making it difficult to analyze detailed industries. This study utilizes satellite data on major North Korean companies to generate firm-level indicators of entrepreneurial activity, which are then aggregated at the industry subcategory level to generate industry-level indicators for 41 industries.

Second, this study utilizes new satellite data. Previously, most of the satellite data used to observe North Korea’s economy were based on nighttime light levels. This is because nighttime illumination is widely used and reliable as an indicator of income level in the field of economics due to the close correlation between electricity consumption and economic activity. However, the usefulness and reliability of nighttime light has been questioned in North Korea’s unique economic environment. This is because nighttime light observations are made around 1 a.m., when economic activity in North Korea is unlikely to be active, and electricity consumption may not necessarily reflect economic demand when considering the authorities’ monopoly on electricity distribution.

In this study, we aimed to observe the North Korean economy by utilizing land surface temperature captured during the daytime and SAR satellite imagery which can be observed regardless of weather conditions, in addition to the nighttime light data. The surface temperature data was used to index the temperature of the production sites of enterprises, and the SAR satellite images were used to measure the changes in goods loaded in outdoor areas within the enterprise area. Nighttime light data was used to measure the amount of light generated by enterprises at night. As all three are generated by different methodologies utilizing different satellite data, the indicators are expected to reflect different aspects of North Korean enterprises and industries by observing different aspects of firm activities, such as disparities between night and day, inside factories and outdoor areas.

The use of satellite data to generate economic statistics is a recent development and there is no established methodology. It is also the first time that such an attempt has been made for North Korean firms and industries. Therefore, this study evaluates the explanatory power and limitations of the satellite-based economic indicators generated in this study at the firm and industry level. At the firm level, we evaluate the alignment of satellite-based firm indicators with production and investment activities and the macroeconomic environment as reported by North Korean media for nine major North Korean factories. At the industry level, we generated industry indicators by weighting and averaging the enterprise indicators across sub-categorized industry units, and compared them with economic statistics such as trade and output estimates.

The organization and main content of each chapter is as follows. First, Chapter 2 reviews previous studies on economic analysis using satellite data, especially attempts to measure economic activity, and describes the research methodology and data used in the literature. Four steps were taken to derive satellite-based economic indicators: first, target firms were selected, spatial information of firms was acquired and overlaid with satellite data, and economic indicators were generated by processing satellite data at the firm level. As described above, three types of indicators were generated: the “temperature gap” metric using temperature is the average temperature gap between the production and non-production areas of a company’s premises. The "illuminance gap" metric, which uses nighttime light levels, subtracts the national average nighttime light level from the average nighttime light level of the enterprise to control for the effects of power supply at the national level. Finally, using SAR satellite imagery, we created a "load change" metric, which is the percentage of the outdoor area of a company’s property that shows a change in visible goods between two consecutive satellite images.

We then examined and briefly characterized the changes in the distribution of the three indicators (temperature gap, illuminance gap, and load change) by time, industry, and company size. In the case of temperature gap, the level of temperature gap progressively decreased throughout normal years (2013-2016), the UN sanctions period (2017-2019), COVID-19 period (2020-2022), and Post-COVID period(2023) in the lower-end companies, while in the upper-end companies, there was no significant change in the UN sanctions period and a decrease in temperature gap was observed in the COVID-19 period. For illuminance gap, the level of illuminance gap consistently improved across the four periods, especially for larger companies. In terms of load change, the lower-ranked firms showed similar characteristics to the temperature gap as the level of load change decreased over time, while the higher-ranked firms showed mixed changes during the UN sanctions and COVID-19 periods, but a consistent increase in the area of load change during the post-COVID period. By industry, the temperature gap was higher in the heavy chemical industry, including primary metals and transportation machinery, while the illuminance gap was higher in the transportation machinery, electrical and electronic, and chemical industries, and load change was higher in the transportation machinery, machinery, and electrical and electronic industries. Within industries, the variation between firms was higher in light industries such as textile and apparel and food and beverage services. Finally, by firm size, temperature gap was strongly positively correlated with firm size, while illuminance gap and load change were not.

Chapter 3 examines the explanatory power of the three satelliteindicators for nine major enterprises: Kimchaek Iron and Steel Complex, Cheonlima Steel Complex, Heungnam Fertilizer Corporation, Namheung Youth Chemical Complex, Taean Heavy Machinery Complex, Sinuiju Textile and Chemical Complex, Hamhung Disabled Soldiers’ Essential Plastic Goods Factory, Kim Jong Suk Pyongyang Textile Factory, and Pyongyang Goksan Factory. The extent to which the satellite indicators explained the production and investment activities of major enterprises varied across enterprises and time periods, and was not complete. Nevertheless, certain conclusions can be drawn: temperature gap is related to the production of enterprises, especially in the heavy chemical industry. The illuminance gap tended to increase during periods of large-scale capital investment and construction, suggesting that it is generally related to investment activities. In the case of Kim Jong Suk Pyongyang Textile Factory and Pyongyang Goksan Factory, it was also consistent with production activities. In the case of load change, unlike other indicators, it was difficult to find a consistent relationship with business activities due to the short time period (2017-2023), but in the case of the Taean Heavy Machinery Complex and the Hamhung Disabled Soldiers’ Essential Plastic Goods Factory, we found a relationship with business activities. On the other hand, we also detected a possibility of measurement error due to the influence of temperature and illumination in the surrounding area, and upward and downward rigidity of the temperature gap variable, among other factors.

Chapter 4 examines the explanatory power of satellite indicators compared to economic statistics at the industry level. We examine the correlation between economic statistics and satellite-based industry indicators for a total of 16 industries for which we have output estimates at the industry subdivision level, or for which we can construct trade statistics on intermediate goods imports, final goods imports, or final goods exports related to the industry. Only the temperature gap and illuminance gap variables generated industry-level indicators, while load changes were not used in this chapter due to the small number of firms for which data were available.

The analysis shows that temperature gap is correlated with economic statistics at least moderately for nine heavy chemical industries and four light industries, with higher correlation coefficients for heavy chemical industries. In the case of illuminance gap, economic statistics and satellite-based industrial indicators were correlated for two heavy chemical industries and one light industry, showing a lower correlation with industrial production than temperature gap. To assess the overall explanatory power of satellite-based industrial indicators, we conducted a fixed-effects model analysis of the correlation between trade statistics and temperature and illuminance. The results show that each of the temperature and illuminance gaps are significantly and positively correlated with the economic statistics, but only the temperature gap is significant when considered together, suggesting that the temperature gap is more relevant to production. Also, when separating heavy and light industries, the positive relationship is significant only for heavy industries.

The above results show that the satellite-based enterprise and industry indicators derived in this study reflect economic activities at the enterprise and industry level to some extent. However, there are limitations to the satellite-based economic indicators developed in this study that prevent them from accurately measuring North Korea’senterprise and industrial production. We found a number of limitations in the satellite data itself, such as glare in the nighttime data, and in the methodology for calibrating the satellite data and derivingindicators, such as making considerations for firm size and seasonality. Therefore, it is recommended that the indicators developed in this study be used as a supplementary data source. Nevertheless, given the scarcity of North Korean economic statistics, this study is significant in that it presents a new methodology for analyzing the North Korean economy using satellite data and confirms certain explanatory power. Further development of the methodology can be expected to expand our understanding of the North Korean economy.

Recent regulatory proposals on competition in digital markets, such as the EU’s Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, emphasize the importance of ensuring fair competition in markets to sustain innovation and avoid long-term monopolies. There is a growing concern that markets are becoming increasingly concentrated, with a small number of data-rich companies gaining prominent positions in horizontally or vertically linked markets and large user bases. This report identifies considerations for introducing policies to mitigate the market power of data-rich global digital platforms and protect the openness of digital ecosystems for potential new entrants. To this end, we examine data-related regulatory trends in major countries and theoretically discuss the implications for inter-platform competition when data gives digital platforms a competitive advantage. We then focus on data portability, the most prominent data-related regulation of digital platforms, to explore the impact of data portability regulation on digital platform competition.

This study largely consists of five main parts. Chapter 2 outlines the basic characteristics of the platform economy, including its multi- sided nature and indirect network effects, and describes the role of data in the platform economy, in order to better understand the discussion that follows. Indirect externalities are prominent in digital platforms, which are intermediaries that allow multiple independent groups of economic actors to interact through digital connectivity, due to their two-sided market nature. If one side can initially attract a certain number of people to the platform, it becomes easier for both sides to attract additional platform users in a virtuous cycle through indirect network effects, making it easier for market tipping than in other markets. In these digital platform markets, data is utilized to improve the quality of services provided by the digital platforms and to expand their user base. Digital platforms collect, process, and analyze personal-level data generated from users’ interactions with the platform after obtaining their consent. As more data is accumulated, search and recommendation results are tailored to the user, which increases the utility or profitability of the platform for both users and merchants. Digital platforms can also collect and use data to create new business opportunities. By merging with other digital platforms, or by entering the market for complementary services, digital platforms can create additional commercial value by combining their own data with that of other platforms.

In Chapter 3, we examine the current state and future prospects of antitrust regulation in key countries, focusing on issues related to data concentration. While the need to regulate data concentration on global digital platforms has been increasingly recognized as monopolies impede sustainable innovation, appropriate regulatory measures have not been implemented due to the potential negative impact on innovation through regulation of digital platform data and the risk of falling behind in competition in the global marketplace, both domestically and globally, if there are competing domestic players in the country. In the U.S., five antitrust bills targeting digital platform companies were introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2021, but all but the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act were abandoned. The EU has emphasized privacy and personal data protection and has included the right to data portability in the GDPR, which to some extent limits the tendency of global digital platform companies to monopolize data. In addition, the EU recently enacted the EU Digital Markets Act(DMA) and the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). Through the DMA, gatekeepers are obliged to ensure the free portability of data generated through end-user activities and to provide business users and authorized third parties with free access to and use of data, including personal information. In China, where domestic platform companies dominate the local market, no specific laws or policies have been issued to address the issue of data monopolization by dominant platforms. In South Korea, where there is significant competition between domestic digital platforms and foreign platforms, the KFTC has been strengthening its regulatory focus on platform monopolies. The KFTC considers each operator’s ability to collect, retain, and utilize data, gaps, and the possibility of competitors’ access to data when assessing market dominance, and is expected to consider the effect of increasing entry barriers through data and the possibility of transferring dominance in platform merger reviews. The Online Platforms Bill, which stipulates data portability so that dominant platforms can safely move data from user to user with the user’s consent, has beenproposed, but there are also warnings that it could act as a de facto regulation of domestic platforms and stifle innovation.

In Chapter 4, we explore the impact of data on competition among digital platforms, based on the findings in the previous literature. First, we review the findings on whether more data gives digital platforms a competitive advantage. While more rigorous analysis is still needed, as that many of the analyses are based on limited levels of firm data, most previous studies suggest that more data has a largely positive impact in terms of making predictions about consumer profiles, preferences, and behaviors. And if data gives digital platforms a competitive advantage, how does this affect competition between platforms, based on prior research? We summarize prior research that has modeled the process by which digital platforms gain a competitive advantage from data, by using data collected from consumers as an input to innovation activities to provide higher quality services to consumers. We find that there is a first-mover advantage among platforms competing for R&D investments based on data. Unless the initial quality of the entrant’s service is sufficiently high, the first mover will invest aggressively, and the difference in demand between the two platforms will not decrease once it occurs. The effect of a data sharing policy as a policy to address this problem is that competitors who are somewhat competitive in initial service quality or who can compete with the market leader in terms of innovation efficiency will decide to enter the market and engage in innovation competition in the market over a long period of time. The welfare effects of data sharing policies are ambiguous but generally positive.

In Chapter 5, we examine the impact of data portability regulation on competition on digital platforms as data portability regulation is one of the most prominent data-related regulations. In particular, we analyze the consequences for competition between gatekeepers and potential market entrants given the asymmetric nature of data portability regulation in the recently implemented EU DMA, where obligations are imposed only on market dominant firms. We find that when data portability regulation is imposed only on the market leader and the entrant is less productive, the entrant, despite its lower productivity, can leverage the rent from tying future consumers in the initial price competition phase and eventually displace the gatekeeper and capture the market. In such cases, regulatory asymmetries can lead to the displacement of efficient producers by inefficient producers, thereby reducing social welfare.

In Chapter 6, we discuss the implications for data-related competition policy for digital platform markets. We assess economic benefits and costs of policy measures related to limiting the ability of market- dominant platforms to collect more user data and combine different datasets, such as reducing data retention periods, restricting combinations between different data, limiting app pre-installation and default settings, and restricting lines of business. We also examine measures to improve access to data from dominant platforms, divided into two categories: data sharing by a broad range of users and data sharing by specific users, taking into account the general direction of adoption and the characteristics of different types of digital platform markets.