Antitrust & Competition Policy Blog

Automobile Prices, Gasoline Prices, and Consumer Demand for Fuel Economy

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol

Ashley Langer of Berkeley - Department of Economics and Nathan Miller of DOJ Antitrust have a new paper on Automobile Prices, Gasoline Prices, and Consumer Demand for Fuel Economy.

ABSTRACT: The relationship between gasoline prices and the demand for vehicle fuel e±ciency is im- portant for environmental policy but poorly understood in the academic literature. We provide empirical evidence that automobile manufacturers price as if consumers respond to gasoline prices. We derive a reduced-form regression equation from theoretical micro-foundations and estimate the equation with nearly 300,000 vehicle-week-region observations over the period 2003- 2006. We ¯nd that vehicle prices generally decline in the gasoline price. The decline is larger for ine±cient vehicles, and the prices of particularly e±cient vehicles actually rise. Structural estimation that ignores these e®ects underestimates consumer preferences for fuel e±ciency.

Is There Market Power in the French Comte Cheese Market?

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol

Pierre Mérel (UC Davis - Agricultural and Resource Economics) asks Is There Market Power in the French Comte Cheese Market?

ABSTRACT: An NEIO approach is used to measure seller market power in the French Comté cheese market, characterised by government-approved supply control. The estimation is performed on quarterly data at the wholesale stage over the period 1985-2005. Three different elasticity shifters are included in the demand specification, and the supply equation accounts for the existence of the European dairy quota policy. The market power estimate is small and statistically insignificant. Monopoly is rejected, as well as weak forms of Cournot oligopoly. Results appear to be robust to the choice of functional form, and suggest little effect of the supply control scheme on consumer prices.

Card Consolidation Would Be Counterproductive

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol

David Balto (Center for American Progress) has an interesting piece on antitrust and the credit card industry titled Card Consolidation Would Be Counterproductive.

David has spent many of the past years thinking, advising and writing on payment systems issues.  David also is active in the American Antitrust Institute. 

Competition Law in a Global Perspective – Challenges and Trends

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol

School of Economics and Management, Lund University and Law Department, Copenhagen Business School have the pleasure of inviting you to the conference on Competition Law in a Global Perspective – Challenges and Trends February 26 and 27, 2009

Competition Law in a Global Perspective – Challenges and Trends February 26 and 27, 2009

Conference Programme

 

Day 1 - Thursday, 26 February

Competion Law - Challenges from Globalization

10:05-10:45 Keynote Speaker: Patricia Brink, Deputy Director of Operations, US Antitrust Division

Abuse of Dominance in af Global Perspective

10:55-11:15 Geradin Damien, Tilburg University
11:15-11:35 Karl Olsson, Awapatent
11:40-12:00 Morten Kromann, Kromann Reumert, Copenhagen
12:00-12:30 Questions and Comments

12:30-13:45 Lunch

International Cartels and Other Restrictive Agreements

13:45-14:05 Dirk van Erps, DG Competion, EU Commision
14:10-14:30 Alison Jones, King's College London
14:30-14:50 Monica Widegren, Konkurresverket, Stockholm
14:50-15:20 Questions and Comments

15:20-15:45 Coffee

International Mergers and Concentrations

15:45-16:05 Laurence Idot, University of Paris I, France
16:05-16:25 Kent Karlsson, Linklaters, Stockholm
16:30-16:50 Jens Fejø, Copenhagen Business School
16:50-17:20 Questions and Comments

18:00 Reception, University Main Building
19:00 Gala Dinner, Pillar Hall, University Main Building

Day 2 - Friday, 27 February

8am Train to Copenhagen

10:05-10:45 Opening Adress: Sten Frimodt Nielsen, Judge, European Court of Justice - The Court of First Instance
Jurisdiction and Enforcement

10:55-11:15 Bruno Zanettin, DG Competition, European Commision
11:15-11:35 Jan-Erik Svensson, Gorrirssen Federspiel Kierkegaard, Copenhagen
11:35-12:05 Questions and Comments

12:05-13:35 Lunch

IP Rights and World Competition

13:35-13:55 Beatriz Conde Gallego, Max Planck Institute, Munich
14:00-14:20 Hedvig Schmidt, Southampton University
14:20-15:10 Questions and Comments

15:10-15:30 Coffee

Competition and Development

15:30-15:50 Hassan Qaqaya, UNCTAD
15:55-16:15 Boel Flodgren, Lund University
16:15-17:05 Hans-Henrik Lidgard, Lund University
17:05-17:45 Questions and Comments

17:45 End of Programme