The emergence of digital platforms in Uzbekistan’s economy and their impact on market competition

Abstract

The rapid evolution of Uzbekistan’s digital economy has catalyzed the expansion of platform-based business models that increasingly shape competitive behavior across key sectors. This article examines the emergence of digital platforms in Uzbekistan, analyzing how their structural characteristics, scale-driven efficiencies, and data-intensive operational dynamics reconfigure market competition. Drawing on sectoral evidence from e-commerce, fintech, transport, and public service platforms, the study identifies mechanisms through which platforms redistribute market power, alter entry conditions, and transform consumer-producer relationships. The findings demonstrate that digital platforms generate both competitive pressures and novel forms of concentration, contingent upon regulatory responses, infrastructure readiness, and institutional quality. By integrating theoretical perspectives with empirical insights, the article contributes to an improved understanding of platform-driven economic transformation in emerging digital economies.