The Economics of Collusion

The Economics of Collusion
Author: Robert C. Marshall
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 315
Release: 2014-01-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0262525941

An examination of collusive behavior: what it is, why it is profitable, how it is implemented, and how it might be detected. Explicit collusion is an agreement among competitors to suppress rivalry that relies on interfirm communication and/or transfers. Rivalry between competitors erodes profits; the suppression of rivalry through collusion is one avenue by which firms can enhance profits. Many cartels and bidding rings function for years in a stable and peaceful manner despite the illegality of their agreements and incentives for deviation by their members. In The Economics of Collusion, Robert Marshall and Leslie Marx offer an examination of collusive behavior: what it is, why it is profitable, how it is implemented, and how it might be detected. Marshall and Marx, who have studied collusion extensively for two decades, begin with three narratives: the organization and implementation of a cartel, the organization and implementation of a bidding ring, and a parent company's efforts to detect collusion by its divisions. These accounts—fictitious, but rooted in the inner workings and details from actual cases—offer a novel and engaging way for the reader to understand the basics of collusive behavior. The narratives are followed by detailed economic analyses of cartels, bidding rings, and detection. The narratives offer an engaging entrée to the more rigorous economic discussion that follows. The book is accessible to any reader who understands basic economic reasoning. Mathematical material is flagged with asterisks.

Oligopoly Pricing

Oligopoly Pricing
Author: Xavier Vives
Publisher: MIT Press (MA)
Total Pages: 446
Release: 1999
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780262220606

Applies a modern game-theoretic approach to develop a theory of oligopoly pricing. The text relates classic contributions to the field of modern game theory and discusses basic game-theoretic tools and equilibrium, paying particular attention to developments in the theory of supermodular games.

Marketing Decisions Under Uncertainty

Marketing Decisions Under Uncertainty
Author: Dung Nguyen
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1461562090

Remarkable advance in quantitative marketing research in the last two decades, incorporating applied microeconomic theories, operations research and management applications, has brought the field of marketing alongside with finance, accounting and productionto within an executive'sreach for a sophisticatedtoolbox for decision making in an increasingly competitive and complex business environment. A quick look at Marketing, a recently published book edited by Eliashberg and Lilien would indicate even to the casual reader the extent of such methodological progress made by marketing scholars. Even in such an impressive and nearly exhaustive collection oftopics, with the notable exception pointed out by the editors of applicationsofthe scanner data, and in spite of the reference to it, an important omission is related to the issues ofmarketing decisions under conditions ofuncertainty. It is fairly obvious to the marketing executive and academician alike to recognize the important role uncertaintyplays in marketingdecisions such as pricing, promotion, advertising, sales force management, and others. The major purpose of this study is to address certain major marketing decision variables within the general context of an uncertain environment. While there have been significant progresses in analyzing marketing behaviors in a stochastic environment,the sourcesscatteramong differentmanagementandmarketingjoumals; and to the extent that these issues are addressed at all, they have aimed mainly at each separate, specifictopic at a time. Thus, our effort to bring these studies together in the same framework should facilitate our in-depth analysis of these important phenomena.

The Analysis Of Competition Policy And Sectoral Regulation

The Analysis Of Competition Policy And Sectoral Regulation
Author: Martin Peitz
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 514
Release: 2014-07-07
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9814616370

This volume contains a selection of papers that were presented at the CRESSE Conferences held in Chania, Crete, from July 6th to 8th, 2012, and in Corfu from July 5th to 7th, 2013. The chapters address current policy issues in competition and regulation. The book contains contributions at the frontier of competition economics and regulation and provides perspectives on recent research findings in the field. Written by experts in their respective fields, the book brings together current thinking on market forces at play in imperfectly competitive industries, how firms use anti-competitive practices to their advantage and how competition policy and regulation can address market failures. It provides an in-depth analysis of various ongoing debates and offers fresh insights in terms of conceptual understanding, empirical findings and policy implications. The book contributes to our understanding of imperfectly competitive markets, anti-competitive practices and competition policy and regulation.

Applied Industrial Organization

Applied Industrial Organization
Author: Karl Aiginger
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2013-11-11
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 940176395X

Applied Industrial Organization offers a perspective on the richness of empirical industrial organization studies. Some papers derive empirical implications from theoretical models, but other papers start from empirical evidence and construct a theory. Three major topics are explored: the role of innovation, the evolution of market structure and firms, and the determinations of performance. As the central force of market economies, innovation is the essence of competition and results in changes to market structures. Other forces driving the evolution of markets and firms are also analyzed. Finally, the determinants of profitability are investigated. In particular, characteristics such as price flexibility, successful lenders and monopoly regulation are examined. Contributors include F.M. Scherer, Paul Geroski, John Hey, David Audretsch, Manfred Neumann, among others.

European Competition Law Annual 2006

European Competition Law Annual 2006
Author: Claus-Dieter Ehlermann
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 736
Release: 2007-11-16
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1847313949

This is the eleventh in the series on EU Competition Law and Policy produced by the Robert Schuman Centre of the European University Institute in Florence. The volume reproduces the materials of the roundtable debate which examined the enforcement of the prohibition on cartels. The workshop participants - senior representatives of the Commission and the national competition authorities of some EC Member States, renowned international academics and legal practitioners - discussed the economic and legal issues that arise in this particular area, including: 1) unearthing cartels: the evidence; 2) the institutional framework and 3) tools of enforcement.

Economics and the Enforcement of European Competition Law

Economics and the Enforcement of European Competition Law
Author: Christopher Decker
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2009-01-01
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1849801967

The book is well written and readable by non economists. The approaches, questions, methodology, and basis for selection of cases/interviewees are clearly explained and justified. This book is a valuable contribution to the literature. Rhonda Smith, Competition and Consumer Law Journal Recent years have seen a trend toward an economics-based approach to the enforcement of European competition law. But what is meant by economics-based , and how does this approach sit with legal and enforcement practice? This book seeks to place in perspective the growing use of economics in European competition law enforcement by examining precisely how economics contributes to the enforcement activity of the European Commission and Courts. Christopher Decker provides unique empirical insights as to how economic theory, thinking, techniques and data have featured in decision-making in the area of co-ordinated effects. The role of economics is examined throughout the entire enforcement process, from the decision to initiate an investigation to the design and implementation of remedies, and its conclusions are of general relevance to all areas of competition law enforcement where economics is used. Utilising a broad and multifaceted conception of economics, this book is essential reading for academics and students interested in European competition law, EC competition lawyers, applied industrial economists and enforcement officials. It will also be an invaluable tool for academic libraries and institutes, government agencies, law firms and economic consultancies.

Competition Policy

Competition Policy
Author: Massimo Motta
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 650
Release: 2004-01-12
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780521016919

This is the first book to provide a systematic treatment of the economics of antitrust (or competition policy) in a global context. It draws on the literature of industrial organisation and on original analyses to deal with such important issues as cartels, joint-ventures, mergers, vertical contracts, predatory pricing, exclusionary practices, and price discrimination, and to formulate policy implications on these issues. The interaction between theory and practice is one of the main features of the book, which contains frequent references to competition policy cases and a few fully developed case studies. The treatment is written to appeal to practitioners and students, to lawyers and economists. It is not only a textbook in economics for first year graduate or advanced undergraduate courses, but also a book for all those who wish to understand competition issues in a clear and rigorous way. Exercises and some solved problems are provided.