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2021/2022  KAN-CJURV1070U  Advanced EU Competition Law and Industrial Economics

English Title
Advanced EU Competition Law and Industrial Economics

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc/MSc in Business Administration and Commercial Law, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Christina D. Tvarnø - CBS Law
  • Marek Giebel - Department of Economics (ECON)
Fagadministratoransvaret ligger på CBS LAW
Main academic disciplines
  • Business Law
  • Economics
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 03-12-2021

Relevant links
Learning objectives
The aim of this course is to conduct a deep analysis of the legal rules of EU Competition Law in theory and practice, taking into account the underlying economic principles and wider policy issues. The aim is to enable the students to:
  • demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental competition law areas
  • explain, critically discuss, and apply various theories of competition
  • identify and explain the basic legal concepts of the subject area and how their interpretation by competition authorities and courts have developed over time
  • select, formulate and discuss examples that are sufficiently complex to reflect assignments faced by practitioners in the field of competition law and economics
  • identify legal issues in concrete examples, and to argue and propose measures to meet legal requirements
  • explain the economic substance of specific industrial economic concepts that are applicable to competition policy
  • describe and rationalize the main assumptions of economic models of competition and monopoly
  • use economic models analytically and graphically to illustrate issues relevant for competition policy
Course prerequisites
This course presupposes basic knowledge in Competition/Antitrust law and/or Industrial Economics.
Examination
Advanced EU Competition Law and Industrial Economics I:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Written sit-in exam on CBS' computers
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration 3 hours
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam period Summer
Aids Open book: all written and electronic aids, including internet access
Read more here about which exam aids the students are allowed to bring and will be given access to : Exam aids and IT application package
Make-up exam/re-exam Oral Exam
Duration: 20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Preparation time: No preparation
Examiner(s): If it is an internal examination, there will be a second internal examiner at the re-exam. If it is an external examination, there will be an external examiner.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

EU competition law plays a central role in society and in the everyday life of many companies and legal and economic practitioners in Denmark and in the EU. The aim of this course is to examine the legal rules of EU Competition Law in depth, taking into account the underlying economic principles and wider policy issues ranging from the platform economy to climate change that are becoming of increasing concern to the application and enforcement of competition rules.

 

Upon completion of the course, students will have sufficient understanding of the subject to practice and do research in the field. The course concentrates on the foundations for the system of rules, consisting of Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Merger Regulation, which are enforced in order to ensure that ‘effective competition’ prevails in the EU internal market. These legal sources regulate much business activity, often using a complex balancing test to determine whether such activity is lawful competition on the merits or unlawful anti-competitive conduct.


Theories from industrial economics that are crucial for understanding the reasoning behind competition law will be analyzed and discussed, in particular those which are being used to shape and change established legal doctrine. These include theories on the sources of market power, the definition of the relevant market, and harmful effects from horizontal agreements and mergers, predation and abuse of dominance.
 
Description of the teaching methods
The course consists of a mix of lectures, in which active student participation is expected, and case-based teaching.
Feedback during the teaching period
During the course, students will have access to 3 quizzes to deepen the understanding of readings and to apply their knowledge. The quizzes will contain a mix of multiple choice and essay questions. The multiple-choice questions will provide automatic feedback on the correct answers, while the answers to essay questions will be discussed at the beginning of each class after the quiz was assigned.

Students will also receive feedback on 3 group exercises that will be conducted in-class. The exercises will be posted in advance, and students will have 30-45 minutes to work on them during class. The results will be discussed at the end of the class with the teacher.

Lastly, there will be one law and one economics exercise session where students will get to solve a full legal case, perform calculations using concrete numerical examples and discuss economic implications. Questions and feedback regarding the students’ answers will be discussed in class.
Student workload
Lectures 33 hours
Preparations for lectures 132 hours
Exercises 15 hours
Preparations for the exam 25 hours
Expected literature

Course material

 

Massimo Motta (2004), Competition Policy Theory and Practice, Cambridge University Press.

 

Collection of articles and legal documents posted on Canvas
Last updated on 03-12-2021