Why do some industries naturally collapse into duopolies?
Mood
thoughtful
Sentiment
neutral
Category
business
Key topics
market structure
duopoly
industry consolidation
competition
The post asks why some industries naturally collapse into duopolies, sparking a discussion on the conditions that lead to market convergence and dominance by two players.
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11/19/2025, 7:35:01 AM
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In other industries, competition stays fragmented, even when the products appear simpler or less capital intensive.
I’m curious how HN thinks about this: – What specific conditions cause a market to converge into two dominant players?
1. Is it mostly capital intensity, switching costs, regulation, or something else? 2. And which industries today are showing early signs of heading toward a duopoly?
I’m trying to better understand the mechanics behind “natural” industry consolidation.
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