Cristina Poncibò wins 2025 Antitrust Writing Award for research on digital markets
CCA Affiliate Cristina Poncibò, along with Umberto Nizza from Department of Law of the University of Turin, has been honoured with the prestigious 2025 Antitrust Writing Award for their influential article, “Antitrust Mega Fines in Digital Markets and Their Impact on Compliance: An Overview of EU and US Approaches.”
This award, presented on April 1, 2025, in Washington D.C. by the legal publisher Concurrences and George Washington University, recognizes excellence in antitrust research. Competing against over six hundred scientific articles, their work was awarded as the most significant contribution in the category of “Competition Law in the Digital Economy.”
In this groundbreaking article, Poncibò and Nizza analyse the effectiveness of mega fines imposed on digital platforms, highlighting the distinct approaches of the European Union and the United States in enforcing antitrust laws within the rapidly evolving digital market landscape.
Key findings of the research:
Divergent regulatory approaches: The study points out the contrasting strategies between the EU, which increasingly relies on substantial punitive fines, and the US, known for a more conciliatory approach that favours litigation alongside settlement agreements.
Deterrent effect of high fines: It suggests that exceptionally high fines can deter anti-competitive behaviour by digital platforms. Companies may weigh the costs of potential fines and consider the risk of competition law violations.
Need for comprehensive enforcement strategies: The research advocates that monetary penalties alone are inadequate for fostering genuine pro-competitive changes. It calls for a holistic enforcement strategy that integrates financial penalties with behavioural measures, continuous monitoring, and structural remedies when necessary.
The 2025 Antitrust Writing Award further underscores the critical research contributions of both authors in understanding and regulating the challenges posed by contemporary digital markets.
