21. und 22. Mai X. Internationale ... - Bundeskartellamt

Preface
The term “New Economy” stands for an economy that is characterised by
extensive digitalisation and networking – to put it briefly but no less accurately, by
the Internet. Optimistic advocates of the “New Economy” expected an
exceptional and permanent upsurge in productivity to result from this new
technological basis for economic activity. The credo was that old economic
theories would lose their validity and the economy would work according to new
rules.
Meanwhile time has shown us that “old” economic theory should not be thrown
over board in the belief in a new and better world. Company failures in the
Internet sector and substantial stock price losses particularly in the technology,
telecommunications and media sectors have made it clear that the skies above
the Internet economy are not endless after all. But there can be no doubt that the
digital and information technology revolution of the past decade is fundamentally
influencing and reshaping economic relations, in particular with regard to
competition.
At the 10th International Conference on Competition, which took place from 21 to
22 May 2001 at the Hotel Inter-Continental in Berlin, the economic and
competition law issues raised by the Internet as a market and competition factor
were discussed. This brochure contains the podium speeches (in their respective
original language) which were given at the 10 th International Conference on
Competition.
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