ECONOMICS OF ANTITRUST AND REGULATION

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

ECR20

Academic Year of enrolment:

2023

Year of supply:

2023/2024

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in ECONOMICS AND FINANCE OF FIRM AND ECOSYSTEMS

Disciplinary Sector:

Applied Economics

Location:

PESCARA

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

CROCIATA ALESSANDRO

Cycle:

Second semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

153

Prerequisites:

The student must have the basic knowledge of Industrial Economics

Objectives

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES.
The course aims to provide the theoretical/technical instrumentation necessary for understanding the functioning of markets and public intervention to regulate and protect competition. The objective is to increase the level of understanding of the economic and institutional context in which firms operate, and to provide conceptual tools for the analysis of economic phenomena at the micro level.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING SKILLS
Upon completion of the course, students will possess the cognitive tools to:
- make broad assessments of the level of competition and sectoral efficiency performance
- assess the impact of firms' behavior on the degree of competitiveness of the sector in which they operate
- analyze trade-offs between static and dynamic efficiency and formulate analyses of rational incentive schemes in the hands of economic agents
- understand how the behaviors of economic agents are affected by the institutional and regulatory environment.

AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- identify/develop links between microeconomic views of individual firms' behavior and competitive characteristics of the industry in which they operate
- apply knowledge to the identification of key competitive and regulatory issues in relation to real cases.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
At the end of the course, students will have acquired the following communication skills
- understand the relationships between economic and legal language in the analysis of antitrust issues
- expose and discuss antitrust cases, interacting in the identification of factors supporting the positions for and against the provision of the sanction.

Contents

1. Outlines of European and Italian antitrust law.
2. The static and dynamic characteristics of forms of competition.
imperfect.
3. The relevant market and dominance.
4. Collusion.
5. Abusive behavior.
6. Hints of economic regulation.
During the course, the critical issues that the emergence of digital technologies and ICT have brought about for the strategic conduct of businesses and for the orderly and efficient functioning efficient markets. In particular, the course is intended to introduce the
students, including through the analysis of case studies:
1) the theoretical and empirical basis for industry analysis in the field of the digital economy and for the formulation of competitive strategies of enterprises;
2) the theoretical tools and logic of analysis with which the authorities of regulatory and competition protection authorities, especially national and EU, intervene in the same markets in order to
safeguard the proper functioning of competitive processes

Extended Syllabus

1. Introduction, (i): what is competition policy; the differences between competition policy and regulation
2. Introduction, (ii): market power and economic welfare. The concepts of allocative, productive, and dynamic efficiency
3. Quantitative issues: how to define the relevant market and how to measure market power
4. Horizontal arrangements: collusion, and what tools to identify and avoid it; pro-competitive horizontal arrangements, joint ventures in R&D, "standard-setting organizations" and "licensing pools"
5. Horizontal mergers: the trade-off between efficiency and market power
6. Vertical agreements and vertical mergers
7. Price discrimination and the goal of 'market integration' in EU law;
8. Abusive practices:
8.1. exclusive contracts;
8.2. discounts and discriminatory practices;
8.3. predatory pricing;
8.4. "tying" and "bundling";
8.5. "price squeeze", "refusal to deal" and interoperability;
8.6. excessive pricing.
Competition and regulatory issues in digital economy markets.
- Network externalities
- Multisided markets and other theoretical models of reference
- Access and interconnection
- The economics of Internet standards
- The economics of copyright and digital rights management
Imitation, open source, and file sharing
Economic issues of Big Data

Recommended Bibliography

Motta, M. e M. Polo (2005), Antitrust. Economia e Politica della Concorrenza, ed. Il Mulino, Bologna.
Other materials will be distributed in class.

Teaching Methods

Frontal lectures and case studies will be used for teaching.
Frontal teaching activities will focus on theoretical topics and will be carried out by the lecturer, with occasional participation of business experts invited to present testimonies on the topics covered.
Case studies will be approached in the mode of group work (groups consisting of a maximum of 5/6 students) and will be aimed at developing the ability to apply the knowledge acquired to practical contexts and the ability to communicate/present the results obtained
Attendance is optional, but recommended. Only attending students will be allowed to participate in group work.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

Type of examination:
Oral
Mode of verification of learning:
The verification of learning will be conducted through an oral test, consisting of 2/3 questions designed to test knowledge of the reference material, as well as comprehension, independent judgment and communication skills. To this end, particular attention will be paid to the appropriateness of the language used, the ability to make connections between different topics and the ability to interact critically on the topics proposed by the lecturer. The oral test will be evaluated by a score expressed in thirtieths.
In the case of attending students who have participated in group work carried out during the course, the verification of learning will also include discussion of the work itself. The grade reported will supplement the grade of the oral test.

Contacts/More Information

E-mail: alessandro.crociata@unich.it

Days and hours of student reception: Mondays 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Should the regulatory-sanitary framework and University regulations provide for it, teaching activities and related receptions/professional examinations may be conducted in telematic mode (full or partial). Please refer to the University portal for any further information and updates.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree

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