Critical Loss Analysis : Critically Ill?

In the last two decades, empirical analysis has played a continuously increasing role in competition policy. Several factors account for these developments, such as the enhanced quantity and quality of data available as well as the increased focus on the possibility of competitive harm arising from “unilateral” market conduct. The accurate analysis and interpretation of quantitative evidence is essential in predicting and quantifying the magnitude of competitive harm that firms' conduct may induce in a market. In addition, it significantly enhances the focus, accuracy and persuasiveness of the assessment analysis. The importance of empirical evidence may be given different weight by different decision-makers. Thus, quantitative evidence can be regarded as complementary to qualitative evidence and the two methods should be used jointly in the assessment of the effects of mergers