Abstract

PELLEGRINI, José Luis. The traditional treatment of the canonical transaction according to Williamson and its validity in recent literature on digital platforms. SaberEs [online]. 2023, vol.15, n.2, pp.1-22. ISSN 1852-4418.

Abstract. This paper raises the question about the validity, in the economy of digital platforms, of the traditional treatment of the canonical transaction of Transaction Costs Economics. It is understood as such the treatment given by Williamson and some of his contemporaries almost half a century ago and, that with variations, has been replicated many times since then. The results of a bibliographic review carried out to find out if this treatment is found in the recent literature on digital platforms, especially those that mediate between firms are exposed. Some reasons that constitute limitations to apply the traditional treatment of the canonical transaction to transactions mediated by digital platforms are suggested. Previously, some relevant features of Transaction Costs Economy are exposed as well as some relevant features of digital platforms and their ecosystems, highlighting aspects of its operation and the way in which they are interpreted in the literature, related to the validity of the traditional analysis of the canonical transaction. As an epilogue, it is considered that the question posed does not have an affirmative answer.

Keywords : Transaction Cost Economics; Digital Platform; Canonical Transaction.

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