EU Competition Law in the Sharing Economy

This article provides an analytical framework for the competition law assessment of activities in the sharing economy. It is argued that sharing economy platforms are two-sided businesses active in intermediation. Sharing economy intermediation markets are likely to become concentrated and possibly dominated by a single market player. The activities of powerful sharing economy platforms, for which data use is key, are likely to be scrutinised in merger control proceedings and in the long term potentially also in the area of market abuse. This is an ongoing competition law analysis and needs to be re-evaluated in light of constantly developing market circumstances.