The Program on Economics & Privacy (PEP) at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School invites applications for its January, 2022 Research Roundtable on “The Data-Competition Interface.”  We seek authors to develop and present original work that focuses on the intersection between competition policy and other policy goals surrounding the digital economy.  Issues of interest include, but are not limited to:

• The interaction between privacy and competition policy, including:
  • The application of antitrust law to unilaterally and jointly adopted data processing policies.
  • The relationship between government-mandated privacy regulation and competition policy.
  • The relationship between data use in digital advertising, consumer privacy, and competition policy.
  • The relationship between data portability requirements, competition policy, and innovation.
  • The extent to which competition over firms’ data practices should be relevant to antitrust analysis.
  • The antitrust treatment of closed versus open platforms with aftermarkets.
  • Issues surrounding antitrust standing and platforms after Apple v. Pepper.
  • Issues surrounding FTC competition rulemaking and online platforms.
• Measuring the presence and impact of political bias in online platforms, and its relationship with competition policy.
• The effect on consumers and competition of mandated algorithmic transparency
• The interaction between privacy, competition, and content moderation.
• The role of deception or opacity involving data practices in antitrust analysis.

Total honorarium payments of $7,000 per paper will be available to those who fulfill all the obligations of the program, which are described in detail below.

1. Submission of Research Proposal – Submission Deadline of October 4, 2021:

• Proposals should include a brief abstract of the proposed paper, which includes the statement the issue to be addressed and how the proposed analysis is novel and contributes to the relevant academic literature and policy debates. Any papers that plan to include empirical project analysis should include a plan for obtaining suitable data, and the proposed methodology.  In addition, the proposal should address the feasibility for completion by Summer 2022.  Proposals should be no longer than three pages.  Successful applicants will be notified by October 18, 2021.

2. Research Roundtable, Squaw Valley, California (Wednesday, January 5 – Sunday, January 9, 2022):

• Selected authors will present well-developed drafts of their papers at a private research roundtable, which will be held at the Resort at Squaw Creek at Lake Tahoe, California. This research roundtable is designed to provide authors with constructive feedback from expert academics and practitioners in the field.  Authors chosen to present will be provided an honorarium of $3,000 per paper (from which we expect authors will cover their own travel and incidental expenses) after presenting their work at the January roundtable.  Research roundtable drafts should represent substantial work beyond the proposal, and suitable for presentation at a faculty workshop.

3. Completion of Final Draft, Submission to an Academic Journal, and Creation of an LEC Explainer Video Podcast (Summer 2022):

• Authors are expected to revise their paper based on feedback from the Research Roundtable, and to seek publication in a suitable academic journal before September 1, 2022. PEP will also host these drafts on its website (pep.gmu.edu) and as part of the Antonin Scalia Law School Law & Economics Research Papers Series.   In addition, authors will record a brief (10 minutes) video explaining their work, which will also be hosted on the PEP website. Upon completion of these requirements, author(s) will receive a final honorarium of $4,000 per paper.

In addition to providing honoraria, PEP will provide lodging and meals at all events.  Participants will be responsible for their own transportation arrangements and expenses. To submit a proposal for the Roundtable, please email your abstract and other pertinent information to pep@gmu.edu. You can also submit your abstract via our roundtable event site:

PEP’s mission is to inject sound economic analysis into policy discussions surrounding privacy, data security, and other competition and consumer protection issues facing the digital economy.  We pursue this mission through research, education, and hosting public policy programs that bring together academics, thought leaders, and government officials to discuss cutting edge issues involving the digital economy.  For more information regarding this program or other initiatives of the PEP, please visit pep.gmu.edu.