Measuring The Economic Contribution Of Online Digital Platforms To Guide Regulatory Reform

The emergence of online digital platforms has revolutionized trade in goods and services. Their widespread integration across industries has brought about significant changes in production and consumption patterns, reshaping the organization of value chains, business models, and the very nature of work. This has sparked both positive and normative discussions regarding industrial policy, competition, labor market dynamics, social protection, urban development, and taxation, among others. Yet, measurement challenges prevent an accurate assessment of the economic contribution of digital platforms. This complicates policy processes behind attempts to regulate them, since policymakers must often operate in the dark. G20 countries must develop and promote a global framework for measuring digital platforms that serves to inform fair, transparent and evidence-based policy processes to regulate them. This brief proposes an action plan to be carried out in partnership and collaboration with international organizations and think tanks, aimed at agreeing on measurement guidelines, consolidating and disseminating information, promoting partnerships and collaborations between relevant stakeholders, and disseminating best measurement practices to guide regulatory reform.