Conference Coverage
Wilson touts total welfare but Pecman decries standard
18 February 2019
Staking out a position reminiscent of the Reagan administration, US Federal Trade Commission member Christine Wilson has suggested that her agency adopt a standard for antitrust enforcement that looks at efficiency rather than direct benefits to consumers.
UK models antitrust alternatives
15 February 2019
As some US officials call for the development of competition policy by means other than antitrust enforcement, current and former members of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority have touted market investigations as such a tool.
Focus on competition for the market, says DG Comp deputy economist
08 February 2019
The rise of “superstar” companies means the focus of antitrust enforcers has shifted from “competition in the market to competition for the market” – and thus potential competition, Hans Zenger has said.
Ex-OFT economist warns of retrospective misuse
06 February 2019
The former director of economics at the UK’s competition enforcer emphasised the importance of analysing the buyer’s rationale for a deal when evaluating a merger, but questioned how much insight could be extracted from a retrospective review.
Competitors needed for competition, DG Comp deputy says
04 February 2019
An ethos that dominant players need to leave space for rivals because competitors are necessary to provide competition, low prices and choice may explain some differences between EU and US enforcement, Cecilio Madero Villarejo has said.
Canadian chief economist urges simple analyses
04 February 2019
The chief economist for Canada’s Competition Bureau has a clear message for companies facing merger review: keep it simple.
Demand-side remedies are crucial, Fletcher says
04 February 2019
Forcing companies to implement remedies on the demand side of the market, rather than just the supply side, is critical “for making competition really deliver”, economist Amelia Fletcher has said.
Companies by their nature reject antitrust remedies, Kwoka says
01 February 2019
A company’s pursuit of profit gives it an “inherent incentive” to evade behavioural remedies imposed by competition authorities - but in the right circumstances such commitments can still be effective, economist John Kwoka has said.
Remedies process not a business negotiation, Mosso says
01 February 2019
The European Commission’s deputy director general for mergers has rejected suggestions that the remedies process can be treated like a business negotiation between the agency and the parties.
Wilson sees little need for vertical merger guidelines
01 February 2019
If the US Federal Trade Commission does heed calls to issue guidance on its review of vertical mergers, it should do so only to identify and codify existing agency practices, FTC commissioner Christine Wilson has said.