Module leader

Chris Doyle

Information on Restrictions and Pre- and co-requisites, Teaching Format, Academic Aims, and Learning Objectives can be found in the module thumbprint.

Context

This is an core module for L116 students

This is an optional module for final-year students on the following Economics based degree programmes: L100, LV13, L1MD (Economics major and Politics and International Studies major), GL11, V7ML, V7MP, V7MR students.

To do this module, students should normally have previously taken either A) EC202 or B) EC204 and EC208 or EC231

Teaching format

2 lectures per week during the Autumn Term

Assessment methods

50 minute in-class test 4 short questions (10%), Group PowerPoint presentation (10%) and 1.5 hour exam (80%)

Academic aims

To enable students to put industrial organisation theory into a practical context and to provide students with an opportunity to analyse policy issues arising in different market structures. This module will also help enable students to build an understanding of how economics informs policy-making and how to apply effective policy in this area.

Syllabus

This course applies microeconomic principles and tools of analysis to examine economic factors influencing the competitive status of markets. We shall describe markets in terms of effective competition, with reference to economic efficiency. We will learn about the structural and behavioural factors that may lead to a lack of effective competition (market failure). Understanding the causes of market failure in this context helps to inform policy aimed at remedying problems. We shall learn about behavioural and structural remedies.

The course readings and overview can be downloaded here:

llustrative reading

Buccirossi, Paolo (ed.), (2008), Handbook of Antitrust Economics, MIT Press.

Lyons, Bruce, (ed.), (2010), Cases in European Competition Policy, Cambridge University Press.

O’Donoghue, Robert and Jorge A. Padilla (2006) The Law and Economics of Article 82 EC, Hart Publishing, Oxford.

Whish, Richard (2009) Competition Law (6th Edn.), Oxford University Press.