Overview
Aims
These course cover a number of topics related to competition policy and pricing. The objective is to provide a guide to all students who have an interest in competition issues.
Also, following the course chapters, one can notice a set of pricing techniques, each of which might apply in some economic situations, market economy, but not in others.
Finally this course is designed to teach students how to price goods.
Course contents
Ch1. Competition Policy: History, Objectives, and the Law Ch2. Market Power and Welfare- short description Ch3. Collusion and Horizontal Agreements Ch4. Horizontal Mergers Ch5. Vertical Restraints and Vertical Mergers Ch6. Predation, Monopolisation and Other Abusive Practices Ch7. Pricing Beyond the 3 Cs Ch8. Pricing Economic Value to the Customer Ch9. Pricing under Consumer Uncertainty Ch10: Measuring Customer Reactions to Prices. Pricing to Segment Customers.
Learning outcomes
• To provide a systematic treatment of the economics of competition policy; • To deal with important issues as cartels, joint-ventures, mergers, vertical contracts, predatory pricing, exclusionary practices and price discrimination; • To formulate policy implications on aspects outlined before.
Assessment
Written test examination– 60%; Verification during semester – 40%.