We propose that the effect of market concentration on firm survival is different according to whether an industry is static (low entry and exit) or dynamic. In our empirical analysis we find support for this hypothesis. Industry concentration rates reduce the survival of new plants but only in...

In the EU, competition policy is based on three main pillars: antitrust, merger control and monitoring state aid. Our analysis focuses on antitrust policy. In this context, the Commission is concerned about restrictive agreements and practices that imply an abuse of market power. The objective...

The current Austrian antitrust law regime has been in force for six years. Experience so far has clearly brought to the fore the strengths and weaknesses of the institutional setup and procedures in place, from which a need for reform may be derived. The latter arises largely from the fact that...

In a model of sequential patent races, it is examined whether or not introducing a patent law in the home country is beneficial to the firms and the society as a whole given the foreign country already offers patent protection. Before the first patent race starts, the firms and the foreign...

This article investigates how antitrust agencies should structure the disclosing of information about efficiency gains from interested parties (merging firms, and competitors) in merger control. We analyze the particular case of a horizontal merger with danger of foreclosure, where welfare can...

This paper compares the outcomes of corporate self-regulation and traditional ex-ante regulation of network access to monopolistic bottlenecks. In the model of self-regulation, the domestic gas supplier and network owner and the monopsonistic gas customer fix quantities and the network access...

Competition policy has seen quite significant changes over the past years. With the reform of Merger Control and the application of Article 81 (agreements) an "effects-based, economic approach" was formally introduced by the Commission. Two other areas of competition policy are under discussion,...

Die Inhaber der Rechte an Musikstücken drängen auf einen wirksamen Schutz vor der unberechtigten Nutzung der von ihnen verlegten Titel. Anbieter von Musik-Download-Diensten haben daher Programme entwickelt (Digital Rights Management Systems, DRMS), die unter anderem das Kopieren verhindern...

Produktbündel sind im Wirtschaftsleben allgegenwärtig. Sie können zum einen erhebliche Vorteile für Anbieter und Kunden aufweisen, zum anderen können sie aber auch als Instrument zur Behinderung des Wettbewerbs eingesetzt werden. Die ökonomische und rechtliche Würdigung ist daher sehr...

Unter dem Label Trusted Computing Group hat sich ein weltweites Konsortium von Unternehmen der Hard- und Softwareindustrie gebildet, das an einem universellen Standard für sichere Rechnersysteme einschließlich der Datenkommunikation über Internetverbindungen arbeitet. Im Rahmen der...