from Part II - The Dynamics of Competition between Digital Ecosystems
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2025
Competition between ecosystems is different than competition in and for markets. Ecosystem competition happens on multiple levels, between multiple types of ecosystems. Inter-ecosystem competition is competition between different brands, firms with vast digital conglomerates compete with one another across a range of markets. The value of these product ecosystems is determined in large part by the activity on their platforms, where competition happens between complementors within the ecosystem of a single ecosystem operator. The ecosystem operator may also vertically integrate and compete with their complementors directly. These different dynamics mean that ecosystem operators can exhibit their powers in and across markets and ecosystems. Ecosystem power is a form of non-structural power that allows the ecosystem operator to leverage its position into new markets and entrench its existing monopolies. Ecosystem operators can strengthen their position in inter-ecosystem competition by supporting intra-ecosystem competition with and between complementors, or escape competitive pressures by differentiating their ecosystem from others.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.