Economics in Competition Law: Principles and Application

Why This Course

Competition law increasingly relies on rigorous economic analysis to assess market behavior, evaluate mergers, and identify anti-competitive practices. Professionals working in legal, regulatory, or advisory roles need a solid understanding of economic principles to interpret evidence and support sound decisions.

This comprehensive 5-day program is designed to build that foundation. It combines core microeconomic theory with practical analytical tools used in competition cases. Through case studies and applied exercises, participants will learn how to evaluate market dynamics, assess competitive effects, and present well-supported economic arguments.

What You’ll Learn and Practice

By participating in this program, you will:

• Understand key microeconomic concepts relevant to competition policy.
• Apply economic frameworks to assess markets and competitive behavior.
• Interpret quantitative and econometric evidence in investigations.
• Evaluate efficiency arguments and trade-offs in competition cases.
• Present clear and structured economic analyses in professional settings.

The Program Flow

Day 1: Foundations of Competition Economics

• Understanding industrial organization and competition policy principles.
• Analyzing supply, demand, and market equilibrium.
• Exploring firm behavior across different market structures.
• Applying efficiency and welfare concepts in economic analysis.

Day 2: Market Definition and Market Power

• Applying economic approaches to define relevant markets.
• Understanding analytical tools used in market definition.
• Measuring and interpreting market power.
• Evaluating barriers to entry and expansion.

Day 3: Horizontal Agreements and Coordinated Effects

• Understanding the economic theory behind collusion.
• Identifying and analyzing cartel behavior.
• Evaluating practices that facilitate coordination.
• Assessing coordinated effects in merger scenarios.

Day 4: Vertical Restraints and Exclusionary Conduct

• Understanding the economic rationale for vertical agreements.
• Evaluating pricing strategies and distribution restrictions.
• Analyzing exclusionary practices and their market impact.
• Assessing competitive harm versus efficiency benefits.

Day 5: Merger Analysis and Quantitative Techniques

• Applying frameworks to analyze unilateral effects.
• Understanding quantitative models used in merger analysis.
• Interpreting pricing pressure and competitive interactions.
• Evaluating efficiencies and special-case defenses.

Individual Impact

• Strengthen analytical and economic reasoning skills.
• Improve ability to interpret complex market data.
• Build confidence in applying economic concepts to legal contexts.
• Enhance communication of technical insights.

Work Impact

• Improve the quality of competition and antitrust analysis.
• Support better decision-making in regulatory and legal contexts.
• Strengthen the ability to assess mergers and market behavior.
• Enhance the credibility of economic arguments in proceedings.

Training Methodology

This program combines theoretical understanding with practical application to ensure strong outcomes. Methods include:

• Interactive sessions and expert-led discussions.
• Case studies based on real competition cases.
• Practical exercises in economic analysis and interpretation.
• Group activities focused on problem-solving and argument development.
• Analytical tools and frameworks used in competition economics.

Beyond the Course

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate economic evidence in competition and antitrust cases.
• Develop and present structured economic arguments.
• Apply analytical frameworks to real-world market scenarios.
• Engage effectively in discussions involving competition policy and economics.