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Accepted Paper:
Toward data cartels? Circulation and accumulation of intangible assets in maritime logistics
Tom Chabosseau
(École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS))
Alexander Dobeson
(Copenhagen Business School)
Drawing on a case study of a logistics platform, this paper introduces a key distinction for platform studies between data circulation and data accumulation. This distinction contributes to a better understanding of the enmeshment of collaboration and competition in digital platform capitalism.
Long abstract:
Recent research in political economy and science and technology studies has emphasized the rising importance of intangible assets, particularly data, in capital accumulation. While existing literature suggests that firms accumulating significant intangible assets gain market dominance, this article challenges this narrative through an empirical case study of TradeLens, a former digital platform in maritime logistics. Our analysis reveals that the value of data hinges on both its circulation and accumulation. Data exchange among supply chain actors streamlines logistics processes, enhancing reliability and flexibility. Simultaneously, aggregating data facilitates the provision of complex logistics services and deepens market understanding, creating a competitive advantage. This dual nature introduces tensions between the imperative to collaborate and exchange data and the inclination to accumulate it and compete. The article further suggests a nuanced perspective, proposing that the interplay between collaboration and competition in the digital realm may lead to the emergence of data cartels rather than monopolies. Despite these efforts, challenges persist in shaping market structures conducive to such collaboration.