Attend the academic event: “GDPR: what economic impact?” - 20 May 2025

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force in May 2018, has shaped the institutional framework of digital economy in Europe. Has it increased the economic welfare of Europeans? What where  the costs of its implementation? What economic benefits of compliance can companies take advantage of? Is its implementation fully effective on the ground? Has it had a global impact? What is the current state of play in terms of innovation, trust and competition?

Many empirical studies, particularly by economists, have addressed these questions in recent years, using increasingly powerful statistical approaches. But have these studies told the whole story ? This work is giving rise to a rich academic debate in both Europe and North America, the conclusions of which are of interest to regulators and citizens alike.

To take stock of this work, the CNIL and the French Treasury are organising an international academic event on Tuesday 20 May (starting from 13:00 to 18:00 CET). Bringing together economists with expertise in the field,as well as French and European regulators, it aims to draw lessons from the impact of the GDPR from a new, more economic and concrete perspective.

Register for the event

The program

Subject to change

The event will be held in English with simultaneous French translation.

Welcome starting at 13h00

Event hosted by Grazia Cecere, professor of economics at Institut Mines-Télécom Business School

14:00

Opening by Marie-Laure DENIS, chair of CNIL

14:15

Keynote by Dorothée ROUZET, chief economist, French Treasury

14:40 

Round table 1 - Economic impact assessments and GDPR regulation, methodology and key lessons

Moderator: Tom REYNOLDS, chief economist of the ICO - Information Commissioner's Office (UK data protection authority)

• Olivier MICOL, head of the Data protection unit, European Commission (DG JUST C3)
• Klaus MILLER, assistant professor of marketing at HEC Paris
• Sam CAO, PhD in philosophy, assistant professor of economics, Stockholm School of Economics
• Andrea RENDA, research director at CEPS (Center for European Policy Studies), Brussels and professor at the European University Institute (Florence)

15:45

Keynote by Philippe AGHION, professor of economics at the Collège de France and the London School of Economics

16:20

Roundtable 2 - Impact of GDPR on innovation, competition, interregulatory aspects

Moderator: Bertrand du Marais, Councillor of State and CNIL commissioner

• Nicholas MARTIN, PhD in political science, researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute, Germany
• Clarisse GIROT, head of unit Data governance and privacy, OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
• Patrick WAELBROECK, professor of industrial economics at Télécom Paris
• Aymeric PONTVIANNE, head of the economic analysis mission, CNIL

17:25

Concluding speech by Alessandro ACQUISTI, professor at Carnegie Mellon University, USA