8th Conference on the Regulation of Infrastructures: Digitalisation in network industries

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The Conference on the Regulation of Infrastructures is the annual event that brings together all the Areas of the Florence School of Regulation. This 8th  edition aims to identify the key challenges of digitalisation for traditional network industries; discover various regulatory approaches to platforms and determine benefit scenarios for consumers and to the platforms itself.

Introduction

Digitalisation is transforming all industries, including the network industries. It is creating a new model of industrial organization using online platform as intermediaries for multisided markets. As a matter of fact, digital platforms display all characteristics of the traditional network industries: network effects, efficiency, scale, concentration, market power, etc.

The involvement of online platforms in the network industries benefits consumers by fulfilling unmet needs, often efficiently and at low cost. Platforms do this partly by exploiting access to existing network infrastructures that are often vital for national economic growth and wellbeing. However, if online platforms are allowed to sideline traditional network operators, it may mean that vital investment in building and maintaining the infrastructures on which these markets are founded becomes unsustainable in the long-term.

Another pertinent issue concerns the regulatory approach to platforms, as the success of online platforms is achieved, in part, by exploiting regulatory environments that place incumbent firms at a disadvantage. There is a debate as to whether platforms should be subject to the same regulatory obligations as traditional network players, and whether platforms should have access to network services under regulated terms.

This 8th Florence Conference on the Regulation of Infrastructures aims to:

• identify the key challenges of digitalisation for traditional network industries,
• discover various regulatory approaches to platforms,
• determine benefit scenarios for consumers and to the platforms itself.

Papers will be presented in the following parallel sessions: 

• Platform Regulation
• Platforms and Antitrust
• Transport
• Energy
• Water

PROGRAMME

Abstracts Collection

Presentation by Werner Stengg, European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, Head of Unit E-Commerce and Platforms

List of selected authors and titles of their papers (* presenting author)

PLATFORM REGULATION

• Andriychuk, O. “Fighting Fire with Fire. On the Role of Internet Service Providers in Restoring Competition in Online Platforms”
• Becchis, F.*, Postiglione, M.*, Valerio, S. “Regulating the Platform Economy: Problems, Challenges, Tools”
• Bostoen, F. “Are online platforms the new utilities—and should they be regulated as such? Inspiration from over 100 years of telecommunications regulation”
• Ducuing, C. “Conceptualizing digital infrastructure: a study of data sharing legal regimes in the field of network industries”
• Heim, M., Nikolic, I.* “A FRAND Regime for Dominant Digital Platforms”
• Knieps, G.”Internet of Things and the network economics of operator platforms”
• Mathew, B. “Why now, a proposal to tax digital activities?”

PLATFORMS AND ANTITRUST

• Atik, C. “Data Ownership and Data Portability in the Digital Agriculture Sector: A Proposal to Address Novel Challenges”
• Parcu, P.L. “New digital threats to media pluralism in the information age”
• Wahyuningtyas, S. Y.”Governing Algorithm for Fair Competition in the Digital Market in Indonesia”

TRANSPORT

• Bock, B., Fechner, A.*, Klein, A., Wolf, A. “Transparency of Routing Service Platforms and Potential for Segregation and Manipulation”
• Fuentes, R*., Hunt, L.C., Lopez-Ruiz, H.G., Manzano, B. “Combined Technological Disruptions in the Electricity and Transport Sectors: Regulation for Dual Platforms and Aggregated Services”
• Murati, E.”Passenger Multimodal Transport: the case of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)”
• Oliveira Cruz, C., Miranda Sarmento, J.* “Mobility-as-a-Service platforms”

ENERGY

• Cappelli, V.*, Cuccuru, P.*”Blockchain infrastructure for a smarter energy sector. A primer on liability”
• Gonçalves, E. *, Dutra, J.,  Naccache, P. “Smart Metering Regulation in Brazil: Potential Impacts from Regulatory Delay”
• Gunst, A.*,  Zobu, B., Wallace-Müller, K. “The Digitalisation of Energy Systems”
• Korsakaite,D.*,  Bieksa, D. ,  Jasas D. “Electronic Trading Platform as the Catalyst for Biomass Sector Competitive Transformation and Growth: Lithuanian Case Analysis”

WATER

• Esteve Guasch, V.”Capital Structure, Investment, and Regulation: The England and Wales Water Sector”
• Klien, M. “Performance consequences of water utility aggregation”
• Porcher., S. “Public Versus Private Management in Water Public Services: Taking Stock, Looking Ahead”

Conference structure

The format of the Florence Conference on the Regulation of Infrastructures is unique:

• Each presenter has 45’, which includes 20’ of presentation, 10’ of qualified feedback and 15’ of discussion with the audience (there are only 2 papers per session, guaranteeing high quality discussions);
• Feedback will be given by senior professors associated with the Florence School of Regulation who are specifically knowledgeable about the topic at hand;
• Papers retained for publication will receive additional feedback beyond the Conference.

Timeline

• Submission of the abstract by 13 January 2019 3 February 2019 in word format (download the guidelines) using the online form. For any issue regarding the submission, please contact Ms Irina Lapenkova at FSR.Transport@eui.eu;
• Notification of acceptance by 22 February 2019;
• Submission of the full paper by 26 May 2019; participants who fail to submit a full paper by this deadline will be automatically removed from the programme;
• Conference on 20-21 June 2019 in Florence (Italy).

Conference fee

• 150 EUR – Partial fee waivers for PhD students are available. Please contact Ms Irina Lapenkova at FSR.Transport@eui.eu  for further information

Publication opportunities

• Papers will qualify for the Journal Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, which is published by Sage as of 2017.
• A summary of the 4-5 best papers will have the chance to be published in the dedicated issue of the Network Industries Quarterly (Issue 21, Vol 3, September 2019).

Organizing Committee

• Prof Simone Borghesi (EUI, Part-time professor and Director of the Climate Area of the FSR. Siena University, Professor)
• Prof Matthias Finger (EUI, Part-time professor and Director of the Transport Area of the FSR. EPFL, Professor and Director of the Chair of Management of Network Industries)
• Prof Jean-Michel Glachant (EUI, Robert Schuman Chair, Director of the FSR, Director of the Energy & Climate Area of the FSR, Holder of the Loyola de Palacio Chair)
• Prof Juan Montero (EUI, Part-time professor of the Transport Area of the FSR, Professor of Administrative Law and Regulation in UNED University (Madrid)
• Prof Pier Luigi Parcu (EUI, Part-time professor and Area Director of the FSR Communications & Media, CMPF)
• Prof Stéphane Saussier (EUI, Part-time professor and Director of the Water Area of the FSR. IAE de Paris, Professor and Director of the EPPP Research Group)

Registration 

For information on registration, please contact FSR.Transport@eui.eu.