The central aim of this module is to develop basic student understanding regarding competition law and its enforcement in the EU and the US. The broader aim of the module is to contribute to the development of working student knowledge with regard to the operation of the legal system surrounding business enterprises in general and its economic analysis.

(LO1) Demonstrate knowledge with regard to the key objectives, functions and operation of competition rules including the basic economic incentives for the restriction of competition.

(LO2) Demonstrate understanding of common methods through which economic operators restrict competition (such as price-fixing and market allocation).

(LO3) Critically analyse the way in which competition law detects and deters such practices.

(LO4) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the use of economic concepts and models in the field of competition law.

(LO5) Analyse various advantages and risks of relying on economic concepts and models in the application of competition rules including risks of applying competition rules to public services.

(S1) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills – oral

(S2) Improving own learning/performance - Reflective practice

(S3) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills - written

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (including referencing skills)

(S5) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S6) Information skills - Critical reading

(S7) Research skills - All Information skills

(S8) Global citizenship - Relevant economic/political understanding

(S9) Commercial awareness - Relevant understanding of organisations

Indicative syllabus: Schools of Competition, Aims of Competition Law and Different Competition Models The history of competition law and policy in the EU and the US The structure and basic concepts of the EU competition law and American antitrustlaw, introduction to anticompetitive agreements Anticompetitive agreements, vertical and horizontal agreements, individual and group exemptions in EU competition law, the US rule of reason doctrine The EU abuse of dominance doctrine and the US monopolisation doctrine The modernisation of the abuse of dominance doctrine in the EU (Art.102) and specific types of abusive/exclusionary behaviour Oligopolistic markets and anticompetitive mergers Public and private enforcement of competition rules

Teaching Method 1 - Seminar
Description: The course will be taught through 12 interactive seminars in which students will have a semi-structured discussion of the seminar's topic.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Self-Directed Learning Description: Student reading and seminar question preparation, formative and summative assessment.