ECON0928-1 : Economics of Competition and Regulation

Study Programmes 2015-2016

ECON0928-1

Economics of Competition and Regulation

Duration :

30h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits :

Master in economics : general (120 ECTS)		5
Master in economics : general (120 ECTS)		5
Master in economics : general (60 ECTS)		5

Lecturer :

Axel Gautier

Language(s) of instruction :

English language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Course contents :

Public authorities often intervene in the conduct of markets. They supply goods themselves (public transport is an example), they regulate the provision of goods/services by private firms by imposing sector specific regulation. Finally, through competition policy, they prevent firms from taking actions that increase market power in a detrimental way. The course of Economic Theory of Competition and Regulation studies public interventions in a market economy and more specifically the relations between firms and public authorities.

The course is organized around 10 topics. Each topic will be introduced by a simple economic model and illustrated by an empirical analysis or a case study.

1. Fixed-price and cost-plus contracts
2. Procuring a good
3. Public-Private Partnerships
4. Liberalization of network industries and access pricing
5. Universal service obligations
6. Measuring market power
7. Mergers I: Unilateral effects
8. Mergers II: Coordinated effects
9. Abuse of dominant position: Bundling goods 10. Cartels and leniency

Learning outcomes of the course :

Be able to use simplified economic and econometric models to understand a real-world problem in the fields of competition and regulation.

ILO: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Each subject will be discussed in class during 2 hours. Each subject will be introduced by the professor and illustrated by readings. Readings are compulsory and will be discussed in class.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

For each topic: one class (2 hours) + one compulsory reading.