Department of Economics, University of Oxford

Oxford Economics Summer School Course in Economics of Digital Economy - Applied

Oxford Economics September Summer School

Our September Summer School gives you the opportunity to complete advanced economics courses taught by internationally renowned economists, whilst immersing yourself in the unique learning experience Oxford provides.
Not only that, but our Summer School stands out from the crowd by allowing you to create your own tailor-made learning experience. When you apply you will have the option to select courses in Applied Microeconomics, Macroeconomics or Econometrics; so you can choose morning and afternoon sessions from two different disciplines, or focus on a single field of interest. This allows you to create a tailored learning experience that ensures you get the most out of your time in Oxford.

Afternoon Course

7-11 September 2026

The modern economy is characterised by the dominant position of several large platforms and the importance of consumer data. Online platforms quickly overtook traditional businesses in the list of the world’s largest companies. They run their business in ways that are fundamentally different from traditional markets: services are often offered for free, platforms share their marketplace with rivals’ products, and the ability of platforms to attain high profits relies on access to consumer information.

In this course, we are going to unpack the key driving factors behind the ascent of the digital economy as well as policy challenges brought by this rapid rise. We are going to talk about how firms can build up and monetise network effects, and how platforms make their pricing and stocking decisions. We will look into the economics of search engines, the strategic design of search algorithms and search pricing. We are going to discuss the competition policy response to the rise of digital platforms and, in particular, focus on consumer data and privacy.