Economics of Competition and Regulation

Duration

30h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Axel Gautier

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit 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 Economics of Competition and Regulation studies public interventions in a market economy and more specifically the relations between firms and authorities.

The course is organized around 10 topics. Each topic will be introduced by a economic model and illustrated by an empirical analysis or a case study.  The objective is to apply sound economic theory to real-world cases in the field of regulation/competition


Provisional list of topics
Part 1: competition policy
0. Introduction
1. Measuring competition and market power
2. Mergers I: Unilateral effects
3. Mergers II: Coordinated effects
4. Abuse of dominant position: Bundling goods
5. Abuse of dominant position: Google
6. Cartels and leniency
7. Predatory pricing
Part 2 Regulation
8.  Sector specific regulations: general principles and applications
9. Universal service
10. Private provision of public services
 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

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.

Recommended or required readings

One or several compulsory readings per subject

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral exam A list of questions (to be prepared) is given in advance

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

This course will be given in English
Classes on Monday 1.20-3.30pm (Q1) Slides and readings are available on line

Contacts

Lecturer: Axel GAUTIER Email: agautier@ulg.ac.be Office I.49, BAT B31(ST) Tel: 04/366.30.53