ECONOMIC AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF COMPETITION POLICY.

3rd Year/4th Year 2004/05

Pat Massey Contact Information

• Office hours 10-11 on Tuesdays. Room 3021 Arts Building

• E-mail: pmassey@compecon.ie

• Web: www.compecon.ie

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Department of Economics and the Law School jointly run this course. The subject matter concerns the interpretations and implications of competition law together with an economic analysis of competition and regulatory policies. The course concentrates on Irish and European Community Law but also refers to the evolution of antitrust law in the United States.

ASSESSMENT

This course is examined by assessment (20 per cent) and a three-hour examination (80 per cent) at the end of Trinity Term. The assessment for BESS students will take the form of an individual project, which must be submitted by Tuesday 30^th March 2004. BESS Faculty students must submit two typed copies of their projects to Francis O'Toole. A deadline extension can only be granted if an appropriate medical certificate is submitted promptly. (In exceptional cases, BESS (Law) students may be allowed submit a law (economics) project; both lecturers must be informed in such cases.) In the final examination paper, all students must answer four questions including at least one question (from approximately four) from the economics section and at least one question (from approximately four) from the law section.

COURSE TOPICS

1. Introduction

2. An Overview of Welfare Economics & Concepts of Competition in Economics

3. Market Definition, Market Power and Dominance

4. Abuse of Dominance

5. Horizontal Restraints of Trade: Oligopoly and Tacit Collusion

6. Vertically Restrictive Agreements

7. Mergers

To access lecture notes click here.

SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS

Students should have regular access to at least some of the following books:

• Bishop, S. & M. Walker, The Economics of EC Competition Law: Concepts, Applications and Measurement, Sweet & Maxwell, 1999.

• Kwoka, J. & L. White (eds.), The Antitrust Revolution: Economics, Competition and Policy, Oxford University Press, Foruth Edition. 2004.

• Martin, S., Industrial Economics: Economic Analysis and Public Policy, MacMillan, 1994.

• Massey, P. and Daly, D., Competition and Regulation in Ireland The Law and Economics, Oak Tree Press, 2003.

• Phlips, L., Competition Policy: A Game-Theoretic Perspective, Cambridge University Press, 1995.

• Scherer, F & D. Ross, Industrial Market Structure & Economic Performance, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1990.

• Whish, R., Competition Law, Butterworths, Fifth Edition, 2004.