Role of Economics in Competition Law and Practice

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol

The UCL Jevons Institute is pleased to announce that it will again run it successful Role of Economics in Competition Law and Practice course, starting in the Autumn 2010.    This course introduces the economic theories that underlie competition law and the methods that are used to assess whether business practices are nefarious, benign, or healthy.  This year it is taught by Dr. Andrea Coscelli, Director of Competition Economics at Ofcom, and Professor David S. Evans who teaches at University of Chicago as well as University College London.  During the year, there will be guest lecturers primarily drawn from current or ex-officials of competition authorities as well as judges and visiting academics. The course consists of two parts: The first part involves an introduction to microeconomics and industrial organization theory. It provides a basic introduction to the economics of markets including how firms maximise profits, the theory of demand, the role of costs, perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, product differentiation, vertical relationships, and multi-sided markets. The second part involves the application of economics to competition policy. It includes the analysis of market power, market definition, cartels and other coordinated  behaviour, unilateral conduct including predatory and exclusionary practices, horizontal and vertical mergers, two-sided markets and the web economy, and antitrust and intellectual property. The course is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of how economics is applied to competition policy as well as practical tools for applying this to cases. Although both parts provide a rigorous introduction to the topic, the course does not require students to have any previous coursework or knowledge of economics and does not require students to a know anything beyond very basic math. Lectures rely on graphs and verbal descriptions to convey key concepts. Typical students generally have undergraduate degrees in law or other liberal arts subjects.  Most students who take the course go on to practice as competition lawyers or in another field of law in which knowledge of economics is helpful. BOOK BEFORE THE END OF JULY AND RECEIVE A 15% DISCOUNT ON THE REGISTRATION FEES.  To view the full schedule of lectures and book your place, please click on the link below or go to:  http://ucl-competition-10-11.eventbrite.com/  Alternatively you can download a brochure about the course from the UCL Jevons Institute website:  http://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/jevons/events With best wishes, Lisa Penfold Events Manager, UCL Faculty of Laws Tel: 020 7679 1514 email: lisa.penfold@ucl.ac.uk    You are invited to the following event: UCL Jevons Institute: The Role of Economics in Competition Law & Practice Date: Tuesday, October 05, 2010 at 6:00 PM - to - Tuesday, March 08, 2011 at 8:00 PM (GMT) Location: UCL Faculty of Laws Bentham House Endsleigh Gardens WC1H 0EG London United Kingdom