Duration
20h Th
Number of credits
| Specialised master in European law | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Auer Dirk, Norman Neyrinck
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
In an era where interdisciplinarity has become the key word, this course offers to the students the opportunity to gain the economic skills needed to understand, analyze and then criticize the enforcement of competition law.
This course offers a general introduction to economic theory (classic and neo classic theories and related key notions - monopoly, oligopoly, market failure, transaction costs, agency theory, natural monopoly, etc.) and its tools (consumer welfare, economic efficiency, cost definitions, prices, entry barriers, etc.).
The course describes three types of strategic behaviors likely to alter competition:
- acquisition of market power (through horizontal, vertical and conglomerate mergers);
- strengthening of market power (or exclusive strategies directed against rival undertakings); and,
- exploitation of market power (cartels, price discrimination and excessive prices).
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- read and understand the economic literature about antitrust and industrial organization ;
- criticize EU case law against the findings of economic theory ;
- use economic arguments to support/challenge the legality of a business practice.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
This course starts with the basics of the economics of competition law. Hence, no prerequisites are required.
However, students are advised to follow DROI0271-1 "Droit européen de la concurrence", taught by N. PETIT, in order for cross-fertilization of the teachings.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
A liste of readings is communicated for the first class. This list is updated each year. Most often, these are papers or book extracts on Economics of antitrust and Industrial Organnization.
The examples discussed during the course will mainly be based on case law.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
The course is an ex-cathedra course, with a certain degree of interactivity.
Recommended or required readings
The following books may be used for further readings:
o M. MOTTA, Competition policy: Theory and practice, Cambridge, University Press, 2004;
o S. BISHOP & M. WALKER, The economics of EC competition law : concepts, application and measurement, London, Sweet & Maxwell, 2010.
Assessment methods and criteria
Students are assessed on the basis of an oral exam - possibly following the writing of an essay on an economic topic relevant for competition law.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
nicolas.petit@ulg.ac.be
norman.neyrinck@ulg.ac.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session
Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning
This course is taught online, though interactive e-seminars. During these sessions, students and teachers discuss together the readings that were scheduled in advance. Take-away points are identified.
Assessment subjects
Students will be assessed on:
- their understanding of the various economic reasonings, concepts and notions; and
- their ability to make links between economic theory and competition policy enforcement.
Assessment methods
Students will be assessed on the basis of the drafting of a short "blog post" text (max. 3,000 words). This text will discuss a competition enforcement issue from an economic perspective.
Students will freely define a topic of their choice.
The assessement of the text will mainly be made on the basis of the following criterions: originality of the developments ; clarity of the reasoning and of the drafting ; relevant use of economic concepts and their application to an competition law enforcement issue.
Contacts
Students may contact :
norman.neyrinck@ulg.ac.be
dirk.auer@ulg.ac.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session
Assessment subjects
Students will be assessed on:
- their understanding of the various economic reasonings, concepts and notions; and
- their ability to make links between economic theory and competition policy enforcement.
Assessment methods
Students will be assessed on the basis of the drafting of a short "blog post" text (max. 3,000 words). This text will discuss a competition enforcement issue from an economic perspective.
Students will freely define a topic of their choice.
The assessement of the text will mainly be made on the basis of the following criterions: originality of the developments ; clarity of the reasoning and of the drafting ; relevant use of economic concepts and their application to an competition law enforcement issue.
Contacts
Students may contact :
norman.neyrinck@ulg.ac.be
dirk.auer@ulg.ac.be