Economic Principles of Competition Law

This contribution is a broad (textbook-like) survey on the economic foundations of competition policy. It encompasses a comprehensive overview on both industrial economics and law and economics arguments, as far as they are relevant for competition law. Contents: I. Competition and competition policy: an introduction II. History of competition policy III. Competition economics: an overview of theoretical concepts IV. Competition policy: normative and theoretical foundations V. Horizontal Agreements and Cartel prohibition VI. Horizontal mergers and merger control VII. Vertical agreements and vertical mergers VIII. Predatory behaviour and prohibiting of abuse of market power by a dominant firm IX. Natural monopolies and regulation X. Institutional foundations of competition policy