The dynamics of digital services in Argentina:

supply structure, disintermediation, and household demand

Abstract

Digital technologies have transformed the material base of global society. In the 21st century, a group of companies emerged that, by dominating digital infrastructure, services, and strategic knowledge, placed themselves at the forefront of contemporary capitalism. This article analyzes the dynamics of digital services from an under-explored perspective: that of households (which have now become direct importers). Based on an original characterization of the supply structure, information provided by INDEC (Argentina’s National Institute of Statistics and Census) regarding the weight and distribution of these services in household sector demand will be analyzed. This will allow for an account of the transformation of global value chains and the practices of cooperation and competition among major platforms in a process that also impacts households.